Digital Resources Abound for Observing Advent

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Meant to be an extended time of reflection on God's promises to redemption of creation through Jesus, the Christ, Advent observance can get pushed aside amid the frenzied activities of the holiday season. These days, thanks to the Internet, United Methodists can avail themselves of email and online resources that provide spiritual support for a busy time.

All through the first week of Advent, emails have provided both immediate and continuing links to devotional material. Some resources focus on a specific location such as the concerns of a conference or organization, but many have a broader application. Among those resources received by United Methodist Insight:

Rio Texas Conference devotes an entire page to Advent resources under the umbrella of "Learn, Imagine, Practice." The page shares links to topics such as slides and videos that explain the season's meaning and its practices and creative ways to observe Advent in both home and church.

Western North Carolina Conference features an "Advent Message of Hope" video from Bishop Ken Carter. Noting that the first candle of the Advent wreath is known as "the candle of hope," the video asks, "What are you hopeful for this Christmas season?"

Indiana Annual Conference has put together a downloadable Advent devotional, "Grit to Grace," that its email describes says the booklet "was written by representatives of the INUMC, with diverse racial representation, clergy and laity, men and women, young and old, all contributing the gifts of words. For their gifts, we give God thanks!"

Iowa Annual Conference, one of the connection's most prolific source of spiritual support, began its Advent season with a reflection by the Rev. William Poland, interim assistant to the bishop and director of connectional ministries. The reflection includes references to the lectionary scriptures, Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, and Matthew 24:36-44. Iowa's first devotional emphasized the image of light with a quote: "Come, house of Jacob, let’s walk by the Lord’s light" (Isaiah 2:5 CEB). To subscribe to any of Iowa's emails, start on its home page.

Reconciling Ministries Network has posted a first-week-of-Advent video also on the theme of hope, using Romans 15:13 as its scripture: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

The Lewis Center for Church Leadership at United Methodist-related Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. sent a link to an Advent journey for church leaders. Its introduction says: "These reflections are designed to help you step away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and reflect on God’s presence in your midst." The Rev. Dr. Jessica L. Anschutz, the assistant director of the Lewis Center, leads the videos. Devotions will be released on Wednesdays in “Leading Ideas” e-newsletter (https://www.churchleadership.com/lead...) and here on the Lewis Center's YouTube channel. Side note: While the ads on YouTube typically rotate, the Lewis Center's first lesson of Advent began with a public service announcement for Save the Children by a well-known United Methodist, actress Jennifer Garner.

General Board of Church and Society offers an Advent reflection by its outgoing top executive, the Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, who retires on Dec. 31. Dr. Henry-Crowe writes of the challenge to celebrate the season in the midst of the world's woes: "Never has Advent been more poignant. ... We live in this liminal space, this threshold between what is and what is to be. ... In the midst of the realities of this world, we begin to prepare for something that we believe will come and bring joy. ... Preparation itself is a kind of sacrament. Preparation is making sacred very ordinary habits and rituals so that the Extraordinary may come."

Methodist Federation for Social Action, an unofficial caucus of United Methodists committed to social justice, sent an early Advent reflection penned by the Rev. John F. Backe, member of the National Council of the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA. With the theme of "Too Much Noise, Rev. Backe pleads with God for a lessening of the world's noise that blocks out spiritual contemplation. He writes: "God with us, help us pray not to be heard but to listen for your prayer sung into our hearts." MFSA's email devotional for Advent Week 2, "Seasons: Movement in Justice" on the scriptures of Luke 1:51-53 and Isaiah 55:10-12, is written by the Rev. Dr. Nathan Hosler, director of the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy based in Washington, D.C.

United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) features "Advent Devotionals and Faith Talks" by the Rev. Kathleen Stone. Rev. Stone was featured on UWF's monthly "Faith Talks" podcast on Dec. 1, available here, with the option to subscribe through several services. Future devotionals will be posted each week of Advent. The first week's devotional offers both a spiritual reflection and instructions for a worship time here. 

Discipleship Ministries, the UMC agency officially tasked with supporting spiritual formation, has prepared "Advent Wreath Candle Lighting Meditations for Home and Church." DM also has posted a worship series, "An Advent Song of Ascents" for congregations to use in Sunday worship through Advent and Christmas.

While not an official agency of the church, United Methodist Insight also would like to recommend an Advent reflection by one of the best writers among its Facebook friends, the Rev. Tripp Hudgins. He captures the deep spiritual essence of the Advent season of contemplation and anticipation in his post "This Is Advent" on his "Lo-Fi Gospel Minute" podcast and blog. His litany of Advent descriptions at the beginning and end of the post provide a wealth of imaginative ways to envision the hope of the Christian season.

With all those resources profiled here, we wish you the wonder of the season as Rev. Hudgins describes:

"Advent is a season of tensions, of God’s present absence and absent presence…of promises made and fulfilled. This is a season when we proclaim God’s salvation for the whole of creation through Christ Jesus, his expected birth and his coming in Glory."

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. This content may be reproduced elsewhere with credit to Insight.