{"id":32612,"date":"2023-11-16T18:31:41","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T23:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=32612"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:23:53","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T20:23:53","slug":"2023-advent-devotionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=32612","title":{"rendered":"2023 Advent Devotionals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Faith grows in struggle.\u00a0 Just as muscles grow when we struggle with weights, faith grows when we test it against the struggles of life.\u00a0 The season of Advent consists of the four weeks before Christmas, with each of four Sundays representing hope, love, joy, and peace.\u00a0 But more than a holiday season, Advent is a time of preparation and hope.\u00a0 We hope in a deeper connection with God.\u00a0 God uses our faith to bring us to that deeper connection, to the hope of a more abundant\u00a0life<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Our faith and hope are strengthened by the life stories of those who are sharing our walk.\u00a0 When we hold hands with other people who are walking their own faith journey, we are encouraged and inspired to go further and deeper within our own journeys.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The devotionals presented on this page are designed to be a tool to help you “hold hands” and to grow your faith during this Advent season.\u00a0 The booklet is an “annual tradition”…\u00a0 but Advent doesn’t have to be limited to the passing of dates on a Calendar.\u00a0 Use these devotional articles to grow closer to God one day at a time.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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From the Editors…<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Welcome to another season of Advent, as we prepare again to receive Jesus in the manger, and we look ahead to the promise and hope of His return one day. We pray the reflections in this book bring you true hope, love, joy, and peace that will stay with you throughout the coming year. People like you wrote them all, and in their words, you may see glimpses of yourself \u2014 your thoughts, your experiences, and your dreams. As you take a few minutes each day to read them, soak in the love of God and rejoice in the good news that Jesus Christ is our salvation.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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Daily Devotions for Advent 2023<\/span><\/h3>\n

The devotional is presented in PDF format. Instead of presenting the entire booklet in one file (and forcing you to scroll through the whole thing to find the current date’s article), the booklet is broken up into separate week-by-week files.<\/p>\n

To read the article for any given date, scroll down to the week you want and click on the button. All of the files begin with Sunday and run through Saturday of the indicated week.\u00a0 This year, Christmas Day falls on a Monday.\u00a0 “Week 4” only consists of two days: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.<\/p>\n

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First Week in Advent<\/span><\/h3>\n

(Sunday December 3 through Saturday December 9) <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\nWeek 1<\/span><\/a>\n

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Second Week in Advent <\/span><\/h3>\n

(Sunday December 10 through Saturday December 16)<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\nWeek 2<\/span><\/a>\n

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Third Week in Advent <\/span><\/h3>\n

(Sunday December 17 through Saturday December 23)<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\nWeek 3<\/span><\/a>\n

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Fourth Week in Advent (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/h3>\n

(Sunday December 24 through Monday December 25)<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\nWeek 4<\/span><\/a>\n

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The Four Sundays in Advent<\/span><\/h3>\n

During this season, the four Sundays leading into Christmas Day are marked by candles on our Advent Wreath.\u00a0 On each Sunday, an additional candle is lit before our worship service to remind us of Christ’s presence among us.\u00a0 On Christmas Eve, the Center candle\"\" (called the Christ candle) is lit.\u00a0 This celebrates the arrival of the long awaited Messiah.<\/p>\n

Each Sunday also has a theme.\u00a0 As we wait for the Messiah, we also look forward to the gifts He gives (and is, indeed, giving now).\u00a0 These “Fruits of the Spirit” in Advent are marked by Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

The order of these “Advent Fruits” isn’t particularly important.\u00a0 The devotional booklet emphasizes these fruits in a slightly different order than the candles we light on our Advent wreath.\u00a0 At PUMC, we order the Advent weeks as Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love instead of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.<\/p>\n

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First Sunday in Advent \u2013 Hope<\/span><\/h4>\n

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. ~ Isaiah 60:2-3<\/p>\n

Lord God, we thank you for your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World. We who have sat in darkness have seen a great light, the light of Jesus Christ, our salvation and our hope. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus\u2019 name, because He lives and reigns with you in your glory and in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Second Sunday in Advent \u2013 Love<\/span><\/h4>\n

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ~ Mark 1:4
\nJesus answered, \u201cI am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ~ John 14:6<\/p>\n

Lord God, we thank you for your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Way. We, who like sheep, have gone astray and have found the way to you through Jesus Christ, who loves us with an unconditional love. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus\u2019 name, because He lives and reigns with you in your glory and in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Third Sunday in Advent \u2013 Joy<\/span><\/h4>\n

And those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. ~ Isaiah 35:10<\/p>\n

Lord God, we thank you for your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who brings us great joy. We who have walked in the shadow of the valley of death have found life in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus\u2019 name, because He lives and reigns with you in your glory and in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Fourth Sunday in Advent \u2013 Peace<\/span><\/h4>\n

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David\u2019s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. ~ Isaiah 9:6-7<\/p>\n

Lord God, we thank you for your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace. We who live in discord and strife have found peace in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. We give you thanks and praise in Jesus\u2019 name, because He lives and reigns with you in your glory and in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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About the Devotional Booklet…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Christians from across the country joined together to produce this Daily Devotional. The booklets were published in hardcopy form and distributed within the participating churches. But if you can’t get to a participating church to pick up a copy, the electronic copies of the devotions are presented here. Use the devotionals “on the go” and share them with others who don’t have access to the printed booklets. Click one of the social media “share” buttons at the bottom of this post and share the link with your “friends” or “followers.”
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Printed copies of the booklet are available on our Welcome Desk (in the Narthex).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Copies have also been distributed to many of the participating churches.\u00a0 If you want a printed copy of the booklet, check with your church.\u00a0 If they don’t have them, contact: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Zion United Methodist Church, Clarksboro, NJ 08020 \u2022 856-423-2000<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Members of the following churches wrote articles for this year’s Devotional:\nClick on the links to visit their websites<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n