Advent is a time of expectation and preparation. As our calendars often become overloaded with extra events, our hearts and minds can also feel overwhelmed by the chaos of the season. Sometimes we skip past the period of waiting, and feel pushed into a month-long Christmas before we have even reached December 25th. Yet the church calendar places an importance on the waiting before the celebration of Christ’s coming.
Advent calls us to sit with the darkness, the pain, the longing; and as we look at our world each of those things are very apparent. So, whether your Advent season this year has been one of reflection and waiting, or one of frantic busyness, let’s encourage one another to take some time of awareness in the darkness.
The Glasgow & Galloway Diocese has produced an Eco-Advent resource, helping us to think about how we can celebrate without costing the earth.
The Scottish Episcopal Institute (SEI) is running a short course on Creation Theology this Advent, led by the Very Rev Stephen Holmes, Provost of St Ninian’s Cathedral Perth and Associate Tutor at the SEI. More information can be found here.
Eco-Congregation Scotland has daily reflections and weekly resources for churches throughout Advent. You can access all their resources and videos here.
There are many helpful Advent resources, and these are shared as a few examples – please use what is helpful and don’t feel you need to try and engage in all or any of them.
You may simply want to sit in the darkness and then light a candle as a sign of the hope of Christmas coming. Or for something practical, take a look at the NESCAN Hub’s Sustainable Advent Calendar for some eco ideas to action now, or plan into the New Year.
Bethany Nelson, Empowerment Coordinator
