Santa Claus.
This one name stirs up images of Christmas, presents, a jolly old man with a beard and a red suit, a naught and nice list, flying reindeer, the north pole and a plate of milk and cookies. Children all around the world wait patiently (or impatiently) for Santa Claus to visit their home on Christmas Eve and deliver their most coveted gadgets, toys and knick-knacks, in reward for being good little boys and girls. People of all ages sing songs and read stories and poetry about Santa Claus' visit on Christmas Eve. The giddy, magical feeling of waiting on pins and needles to hear the small sound of reindeer hooves on the roof is something that a lot of people have experienced in some form or another throughout their lives, or have at least heard the stories., but where did this story come from?
how many of you have ever heard of Saint Nicholas? Well if you haven't, you are going to get a mini-lesson about the origin of Santa Claus!
Saint Nicholas was a devout Christian of the early church and became the Bishop of Myrna. He was known for his intense generosity, taking all of his belongings and giving them to the poor and needy, especially children.
To find out more about St. Nicholas, his history and the traditions, legends and origins of Santa Claus, check out the Saint Nicholas Center
Mini Advent Challenge:
Today, smile and say “hello” to at least five people that you cross paths with today.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Advent. Week 1. Day 5.
As we stated before, Advent is about preparation. The first week of Advent is also about hope. Sometimes in life, we are overwhelmed with the amount of preparation that must go into making big decisions or major life choices. many times we get scared of the unknown and the uncertain. We worry about what might happen, we get anxious about what is to come. Sometimes we stand at a crossroads, not knowing where to turn, or which direction we take and when this happens, we can get stuck. the great news, the news that is proclaimed during this week in Advent is that of hope. Hope helps us to be brave in the face of tough choices. Hope helps us to be brave even when we are scared, or anxious. Hope helps to ease our fears and worries. Hope promises that God is working in our lives and that he will not ever leave us to fend for ourselves. He is by our side, always. That is our hope...it comes from the Lord.
read this quote from our First Lady: "You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once, but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own." — Michelle Obama
Be Courageous. Be Hopeful. Be Brave.
Advent Mini Challenge:
Today, be brave. Gather the courage to take action on something you’ve been putting off.
read this quote from our First Lady: "You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once, but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own." — Michelle Obama
Be Courageous. Be Hopeful. Be Brave.
Advent Mini Challenge:
Today, be brave. Gather the courage to take action on something you’ve been putting off.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Advent. Week 1. Day 4.
Adoration......what does it mean? What does it mean when we say that we adore something?
Wikipedia says this:
Adoration: Adoration is to respect; reverence; strong admiration or devotion.
The term comes from the Latin adōrātiō, meaning "to give homage or
worship to someone or something
The Oxford-English Dictionary says:
Adoration:
Either way you look at it, adoration is a special gift of love to bestow upon someone or something, and no one is more deserving of our adoration than Christ.
During this first week of Advent, is seems fitting, as stated previously, to prepare our hearts for Christmas. What better way to start than to decide right now how we will spend our prep time in adoration of Christ. Just as the 3 Wise Men, or Magi, did so many years ago....just as the angels encouraged the shepherds...just as the Christmas hymn states...we are invited to "come and adore him". Whether this is done through prayer, attending worship, attending Sunday School, reading the Bible, talking to others about Christ, or simply reflecting on your own relationship with Christ, take the time to prepare your heart. "Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. Oh come ye, Oh come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the King of angels. Oh come, let us adore him. Oh come, let us adore him. Oh come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord."
Advent Mini-Challenge: Try not to immediately respond to texts, phone calls or the need to report
your every move on your social media accounts today. It can wait. Instead, make an effort to be present in
the moment and pay attention to who you’re with.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Advent. Week 1. Day 3.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday are over. After spending the weekend, well, spending....it's time to kick off the Advent season right with #GivingTuesday!
Advent Mini challenge:
Set aside $10 to donate to a charity of your choice. It can be an organization or even a friend of family member who is in need.
Advent Mini challenge:
Set aside $10 to donate to a charity of your choice. It can be an organization or even a friend of family member who is in need.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Advent. Week 1. Day 2.
What does it take to make you happy? What brings a smile to your face?
Money?
Possessions?
A nice car...nice house...nice clothes?
Books?
Pets?
Family?
Friends?
Consider what brings you happiness as you listen to this song by India.Arie:
Today's Mini Advent Challenge:
Make a list of alternative Christmas gifts or gifts that won’t cost a thing to give this year. think about how you could use what you have to make a gift for someone special.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Click here!
Money?
Possessions?
A nice car...nice house...nice clothes?
Books?
Pets?
Family?
Friends?
Consider what brings you happiness as you listen to this song by India.Arie:
Today's Mini Advent Challenge:
Make a list of alternative Christmas gifts or gifts that won’t cost a thing to give this year. think about how you could use what you have to make a gift for someone special.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Click here!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Wait For It....
Well folks, it's Decembrrrrrrr! Winter's chill is upon us, the scent of snow is in the air, and the season of Advent is upon us! The church year begins today, December 1, 2013 with the first Sunday of Advent, in preparation for Christmas.
Advent, in the church, is the time of year when we begin to prepare for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. Advent is a beginning. Literally translated, it means "coming", and it a season of anticipation and waiting.
In the secular world, Advent is often seen as that time before Christmas when Christmas carols begin playing, Christmas decorating takes place and everything goes on sale for the Christmas shopping season. This often begins before Thanksgiving is even over!
In the church, Advent is the four weeks prior to Christmas. It is often marked by the lighting of a Advent wreath. In the Lutheran church (ELCA), Advent is celebrated with the color blue, which symbolizes hope. Some people may use an Advent calendar in their homes to mark the passing of each day before Christmas. These calendars often have little doors that open and have small surprises inside them, such as chocolate pieces, or scriptures.
Today, in the F.L.Y. Cafe, we studied the first week in Advent, the week of hope. We focused on Isaiah 2. We talked about the Jesuits practice of "The Awareness Examen", and how the Jesuits utilize this practice to focus on the "God details" in their daily lives that we sometimes miss. We talked about prayer practices and preparing the heart of Jesus' arrival. This year, we will be participating, as a class, in a virtual advent calendar. each day during Advent, The F.L.Y. Cafe will be posting an "Advent surprise" of sorts, with a video, a challenge, a verse or some other resource for spiritual growth and preparation for the coming Christ. Please come and participate in our Advent calendar! visit each day for a reflection on Advent.
Pope Frances I, the leader of the Catholic church, a minister of the faith, defender of the poor and upstanding spiritual example, spoke at world youth day this year and said the following;
"Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! And not only that, but I say to us all: let us not rob others of hope, let us become bearers of hope!"
Lutheran Youth...let us remember this first day of Advent to be bearers of hope. Carry hope with you and spread the message of hope into the world.
Check out this awesome video that a group of children from Australia created to retell the story of Christmas:
Today, as your advent mini-challenge:
***Send a message of encouragement (email, text, Facebook, twitter, snail mail, etc...) to someone who is going through a tough time.
Advent, in the church, is the time of year when we begin to prepare for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. Advent is a beginning. Literally translated, it means "coming", and it a season of anticipation and waiting.
In the secular world, Advent is often seen as that time before Christmas when Christmas carols begin playing, Christmas decorating takes place and everything goes on sale for the Christmas shopping season. This often begins before Thanksgiving is even over!
In the church, Advent is the four weeks prior to Christmas. It is often marked by the lighting of a Advent wreath. In the Lutheran church (ELCA), Advent is celebrated with the color blue, which symbolizes hope. Some people may use an Advent calendar in their homes to mark the passing of each day before Christmas. These calendars often have little doors that open and have small surprises inside them, such as chocolate pieces, or scriptures.
Today, in the F.L.Y. Cafe, we studied the first week in Advent, the week of hope. We focused on Isaiah 2. We talked about the Jesuits practice of "The Awareness Examen", and how the Jesuits utilize this practice to focus on the "God details" in their daily lives that we sometimes miss. We talked about prayer practices and preparing the heart of Jesus' arrival. This year, we will be participating, as a class, in a virtual advent calendar. each day during Advent, The F.L.Y. Cafe will be posting an "Advent surprise" of sorts, with a video, a challenge, a verse or some other resource for spiritual growth and preparation for the coming Christ. Please come and participate in our Advent calendar! visit each day for a reflection on Advent.
Day 1:
December 1, 2013
Pope Frances I, the leader of the Catholic church, a minister of the faith, defender of the poor and upstanding spiritual example, spoke at world youth day this year and said the following;
"Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! And not only that, but I say to us all: let us not rob others of hope, let us become bearers of hope!"
Lutheran Youth...let us remember this first day of Advent to be bearers of hope. Carry hope with you and spread the message of hope into the world.
Check out this awesome video that a group of children from Australia created to retell the story of Christmas:
Today, as your advent mini-challenge:
***Send a message of encouragement (email, text, Facebook, twitter, snail mail, etc...) to someone who is going through a tough time.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Recap and what's to come!
Hey there fellow F.L.Y. Cafe frequenters!
Over the last few weeks, we have had some amazing interactive lessons covering the creation of the universe and humankind, through the disruption of paradise, Noah's amazing rescue during the flood, and the promises and covenant made to Abraham and Sarah to be the father and mother of many nations, beginning with the Israelites.
During these studies, our students have engaged in some pretty cool lessons and intense discussion about their faith, making sense of the Bible and relating it to their own lives. We have worked hard to create a space that is accepting, and that is filled with enthusiasm for God's Word. We wish to convey an atmosphere of curiosity about ones faith, encouraging our students to look deeply at their faith in order to better understand why they believe what they believe and what it means for them personally, as well as what it means on a global scale.
Our students have been working hard on individual projects, which will culminate in one large group gallery exhibition to be displayed for the F.L.Y. Cafe's first open house on Sunday, December 1st. The entire congregation is invited following the 8:15 AM worship service, as well as after the 10:45 worship service.
This week, we will be studying the Exodus, the Israelites' escape from Egypt. This story begins with finding out exactly what became of Abraham and his decedents, the enslavement of a people, an unlikely but nonetheless chosen hero, and an ordained escape to freedom. It is an epic tale, one full of intrigue and action, which concludes with the establishment of the Jewish tradition of Passover.
In order to prepare for this week's lesson, and as a way to review, I have included a virtual Seder plate (Seder is the traditional feast celebrated by the Jewish community during Passover, to commemorate and zakhor, or "remember/re-live" events from their history) and a video depicting a shortened virtual Seder. Please take time to explore these important pieces of our faith's history and "zakhor" with us.
Interactive Seder Plate | Reform Judaism
Over the last few weeks, we have had some amazing interactive lessons covering the creation of the universe and humankind, through the disruption of paradise, Noah's amazing rescue during the flood, and the promises and covenant made to Abraham and Sarah to be the father and mother of many nations, beginning with the Israelites.
During these studies, our students have engaged in some pretty cool lessons and intense discussion about their faith, making sense of the Bible and relating it to their own lives. We have worked hard to create a space that is accepting, and that is filled with enthusiasm for God's Word. We wish to convey an atmosphere of curiosity about ones faith, encouraging our students to look deeply at their faith in order to better understand why they believe what they believe and what it means for them personally, as well as what it means on a global scale.
Our students have been working hard on individual projects, which will culminate in one large group gallery exhibition to be displayed for the F.L.Y. Cafe's first open house on Sunday, December 1st. The entire congregation is invited following the 8:15 AM worship service, as well as after the 10:45 worship service.
This week, we will be studying the Exodus, the Israelites' escape from Egypt. This story begins with finding out exactly what became of Abraham and his decedents, the enslavement of a people, an unlikely but nonetheless chosen hero, and an ordained escape to freedom. It is an epic tale, one full of intrigue and action, which concludes with the establishment of the Jewish tradition of Passover.
In order to prepare for this week's lesson, and as a way to review, I have included a virtual Seder plate (Seder is the traditional feast celebrated by the Jewish community during Passover, to commemorate and zakhor, or "remember/re-live" events from their history) and a video depicting a shortened virtual Seder. Please take time to explore these important pieces of our faith's history and "zakhor" with us.
Interactive Seder Plate | Reform Judaism
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