Visit our devotions website — www.rrcb.org/devotions/
The Advent/Christmas time is without question one of the busiest times of the year. It is filled with Christmas shopping, addressing Christmas cards, planning special trips and getting just the right gift for those we love, decorating the Christmas tree and the house, meal planning and cooking, visiting family and friends, and an endless lists of other activities and responsibilities. If we are not careful, we can soon lose sight of the major focus of this special season. The sacred can get lost in secular pursuits, the holy joy consumed by frivolity, worship supplanted by consumerism, and the worship of the One born on this day replaced by commercialism and frolicsome side streets. We all can enjoy the spirit of gift giving, the wonderful meals, the merriment of family and friends and the special joyous greetings and still focus on the celebration of the One whose birth we commemorate, Jesus, our Lord. But that is not always easy.
This is one of the reasons our church has provided an Advent website and booklet. In order to help our church families focus on the meaning of the Advent/Christmas season, this website or booklet will furnish each family with a devotional thought for each day of this sacred season. This devotional material, prepared by members of our church congregation, provides a resource that can be used for private devotions or a selection for each day can be read as a family devotion. You may want to use these readings with your Advent wreath as you light your special candle each day. If you have small children, you may want to have them introduce a few pieces of the manger set each day with the devotional time.
Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Christ-child, God’s Son. During this time of anticipation and waiting, I hope this website or booklet will afford you a special way to prepare your heart and that of your family for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Please use this resource in your own way to make your Christmas celebration more meaningful.
Merry Christmas.
William Powell Tuck, Editor