Welcome! Thanks for joining us in our 2024 Advent Observances. These short daily thoughts are designed for us to sit (if possible in a quiet place), be still, be present to the Lord and ourselves for thought and prayer.  

Day 2 

What role does a calendar play in your life?

On the church year calendar Advent is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Observing seasons according to the church year calendar gives us the opportunity to order our spiritual life in meaningful ways. It can save us from living in a continual blur of events and activities, and challenge us to focus our hearts differently.

As we observe Advent this year, what does your calendar look like? While Advent traditions may vary among Christian denominations, the central message remains universal: to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of the Savior, the true reason for the Christmas season.

Ponder the following questions while reflecting on Psalm 84:1-4

How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.

• Is there space to slow down, listen to the Spirit and truly prepare your heart for celebrating the birth of Christ? 
•  As the month of December stretches out before you, is there anything you want to add to or remove from your calendar?