Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
Forward Movement has announced the 2022 reflection words for AdventWord, a global online advent calendar and community of disciples. For nearly a decade AdventWord has inspired followers of Jesus who wish to add an accessible prayer practice to their daily routine during this holy season.
Daily meditations and images—inspired by a prompt word selected from the daily lectionary readings—will be released at adventword.org, beginning Sunday, November 27, 2022.
Participants can sign up to receive this daily message, in English and Spanish, by email, or by following AdventWord on social media.
Many followers join the creativity each year by sharing their own personal reflections across social media using #AdventWord. Participants respond with photos, written responses, crafts, drawings, poems, found art, and other creative expressions inspired by the day’s selected word.
“This year we enlisted volunteer community members to help with the selection of prompt words from the daily lectionary readings,” said Richelle Thompson, managing editor at Forward Movement. “The online gathering of dozens of AdventWord community members was an inspiring way to kick off the planning for 2022 and a strong reminder that AdventWord is community-driven.”
The prompts for 2022 #AdventWord
November 27 – Walk November 28 – Together November 29 – Teach November 30 – Mountains December 1 – Make December 2 – Ready December 3 – Unity December 4 – Delight December 5 – Rain December 6 – Welcome
December 7 – Winnowing December 8 – Breathe December 9 – Fire December 10 – Flourish December 11 – Messenger December 12 – Wilderness December 13 – Stranger December 14 – Beloved December 15 – Thirsty December 16 – Traveler
December 17 – Majesty December 18 – Purify December 19 – Sign December 20 – Hear December 21 – Obedience December 22 – Choose December 23 – Restore December 24 – Birth December 25 – Emmanuel
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The #AdventWord Images and meditations can be experienced through AdventWord.org, direct daily emails, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Meditations will also be available on www.adventword.org.
Bulletin Inserts
This weekly bulletin insert provides information about the history, music, liturgy, mission, and ministry of The Episcopal Church. For more information, please contact stw@episcopalchurch.org.
Sermons That Work
For more than 20 years, Sermons That Work, a ministry of The Episcopal Church’s Office of Communication, has provided free sermons, Bible studies, bulletin inserts, and other resources that speak to congregations across the Church. Our writers and readers come from numerous and varied backgrounds, and the resources we provide are used in small house churches, sprawling cathedrals, and everything between.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
In this first episode of season 5 of Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for Advent 1. The texts covered in this episode are Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 12:11-14, and Matthew 24:36-44.
Our guests this week are the following:
The Rev. LaClaire Atkins, an alumnus of Church Divinity School of the Pacific who works in the hospitality sector and is currently momma to an amazing son.
Fr. Halim Shukair, who hails from Beirut, Lebanon, and is the priest-in-charge at Mother of the Savior Church, an Arabic-speaking congregation, and assistant priest at Christ Episcopal Church, Dearborn, Mich. Fr. Halim has interests in interfaith dialogue and contemplative life.
The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, who is of Indigenous, Shackan First Nation and European heritage. She is rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Everett, Wash., serves as the vice-president of the House of Deputies, and cofounded the Circles of Color advocacy network in the Diocese of Olympia.
Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community, visit iam.ec/becomingbelovedcommunity.
Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community
Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. Coming this Advent, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice.
You’ll hear ancient texts interpreted in new ways, find fodder for preaching and teaching, and make present day connections to the prophetic voices of the Bible. This podcast will help us rethink how we hear, see, and interact with the lectionary readings, refocusing from the rush of the Christmas season to the voice crying out in the wilderness.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
“Advent Calendars for 2022” is by the Rev. Katherine A. Malloy, the Associate for Lifelong Learning, Director of Christian Formation Resources at Virginia Theological Seminary. She is a Deacon in Full Connection in the United Methodist Church with a secondary appointment at Floris UMC in Herndon. She is passionate about justice and equipping the saints for ministry.
Growing up our family had one of the Avon Christmas Count-Down Calendars from 1987 with the mouse that moved from one day to the next. While not a true Advent calendar as it simply counts 1-24, the practice of building expectation by marking the days leading up to Christ’s coming is etched in my memory (as is the spirit of competition with my siblings to be the one to wake up and move the mouse first, complete with gloating, “I moved the mousey” song that sits squarely outside the spirit of Advent). Advent calendars and similar traditions can be helpful tools for faith formation at home. Here are a number of options, some of which are free, and some require purchase or donations.
Lego Advent
The Diocese of Arkansas has developed a free prayer supplement for the Lego City Advent Calendar. The prayers for each day of the calendar from December 1-24 connect with the brick builds and lift up various members of our wider communities, like musicians, farmers, grocery workers, and firefighters.
AdventWord
AdventWord is a global Advent Calendar offering images and meditations for reflection every day of Advent. You can download official #AdventWord graphics, find more resources, and sign up for a daily email. AdventWord is great for concentrating on specific terms and practices pulled from the lectionary readings and Way of Love practices. Keep an eye out on social media for announcements about a 2022 edition as we get closer to the season!
Praying in Color
“Praying in Color” creator Sybil MacBeth regularly offers free printable Advent calendars for “doodling” prayers, as she describes it, each day of Advent at her website. She also provides guidance on how to introduce “Praying in Color” as a practice. As of this article’s publication date, a template for 2022 is not yet available, but you can check out her designs from previous years.
Way of Love Calendar
“Journeying the Way of Love” Advent Calendar 2022 is free from The Episcopal Church via download. It is particularly good for older children, teens, and adults. There are prompts for reflection and potentially discussion together. Examples include “set a timer for three minutes to sit in silence and hear what God might be saying back to you” and “take a new or different route to work, or school, or out to run errands.” This could pair well with other Way of Love resources like the Advent Curriculum. The calendar is available in English, Spanish, and French.
Advent Calendar Cards
The Advent Calendar from Salt* features cards with illustrations for each day of the season. The cards include activities to do on weekdays and scriptures and meditations to read on Sundays. You can put the cards in numbered envelopes, hang them up, or use them in another way. We love the beauty of these. The personal use download is $10, and they offer very reasonable increased costs for use on a larger scale. They have a handful of other Advent and Christmas resources, including “A Mason Jar Advent” calendar and “A ‘Less Is More’ Christmas Poster and Devotional” in their Printable Resources.
Rituals & Prayers Advent Calendar
Families Celebrate Advent & Christmas 2022-2023 contains cards for each day of the Advent and Christmas seasons with illustrations, short reflections, practices, and prayers. These are great for families to incorporate rituals or activities into their day-to-day lives during these seasons. The pack of cards is $9.99 and is published by Augsburg Fortress. You can also download a free promotional pack on their website with ideas for using the cards in your church and several coloring pages.
Advent Calendar Poster
Slow Down. Quiet. It’s Advent! is an Advent poster from Forward Movement. It includes illustrations, scriptures, and activities to do to prepare for Christmas. The cost of $15 per pack of 25 posters is even manageable on a large scale, and the price decreases to $12 per pack if you purchase 3 or more packs of 25.
Scripture Advent Calendar
Be on the lookout for the December 2022 Everyday Faith Calendar from Concordia Publishing House. This year they have been offering monthly calendars that include daily scripture passages to read and questions for reflection. These are great ways to start daily faith practices at home. The December calendar isn’t out yet, but you can see previous months to get an idea of what to expect.
BIPOC Leaders Advent Calendar
For Advent 2021, the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Massachusetts published a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Leaders Advent Calendar. Each day gave people an opportunity to learn about a different leader, and the church invited everyone who used the calendar to share what they learned. A 2022 edition has not been posted as of this article’s publication date, but you can check out their BIPOC Leaders Advent calendar website here to follow possible developments for Advent 2022.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on November 2, 2020. It has been revised, updated, and republished for 2022 with the author’s permission.
Building Faith is published by Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. Our mission is to equip and inspire churches and individuals for the ministry of Christian education and faith formation.
We believe that Christian education means helping all ages – children, youth, and adults – grow in the knowledge and love of God. We also know that formation happens in many ways: worship, church school, faith at home, outreach, mission, camp, and more.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
“Advent Calendars for 2023” is by the Rev. Katherine A. Malloy, the Associate for Lifelong Learning, Director of Christian Formation Resources at Virginia Theological Seminary. She is a Deacon in Full Connection in the United Methodist Church with a secondary appointment at Floris UMC in Herndon. She is passionate about justice and equipping the saints for ministry.
Growing up our family had one of the Avon Christmas Count-Down Calendars from 1987 with the mouse that moved from one day to the next. While not a true Advent calendar as it simply counts 1 – 24, the practice of building expectation by marking the days leading up to Christ’s coming is etched in my memory (as is the spirit of competition with my siblings to be the one to wake up and move the mouse first, complete with gloating, “I moved the mousey” song that sits squarely outside the spirit of Advent).
Advent calendars and similar traditions can be helpful tools for faith formation at home. Here are a number of options, some of which are free and some require purchase or donations.
Lego Advent
The Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas has developed a free printable set of prayers to accompany the Lego City Advent Calendar. The prayers for each day of the calendar from December 1 – 24 connect with the brick builds and lift up various members of our wider communities, like musicians, farmers, grocery workers, and firefighters. You can access the Lego Advent Calendar 2023 prayers as a PDF on the diocese’s website.
The diocese encourages congregations to adapt this prayer calendar for their own communities (no attribution needed) and would love to hear from people who use it. If you use or share this resource, please consider contacting Ministry Developer Randall Curtis at the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas by email and offering your feedback.
AdventWord
AdventWord is a global Advent Calendar offering images and meditations for reflection every day of Advent. You can download official #AdventWord graphics, find additional resources, and sign up for a daily email at the AdventWord resources page. AdventWord is great for concentrating on specific terms pulled from the lectionary readings.
Praying in Color
“Praying in Color” creator Sybil MacBeth offers free printable Advent calendars for “doodling” prayers, as she describes it, each day of Advent. She also provides guidance on how to introduce “Praying in Color” as a practice. You can access her 2023 Advent templates at the Praying in Color website.
Way of Love Calendar
“Journeying the Way of Love” Advent Calendar 2023 is free from The Episcopal Church via download. It is particularly good for older children, teens, and adults. There are prompts for reflection and conversation. Examples include “set a timer for three minutes to sit in silence and hear what God might be saying back to you” and “as you are out and about for the rest of this week, notice the people you pass.” This could pair well with other Way of Love resources like the Advent Curriculum (available in English, Spanish, and French). Follow these links to access the Way of Love calendar: “Advent Calendar 2023” (English), “Calendario de adviento 2023” (Spanish), and “Calendrier de l’avent 2023” (French).
Advent Calendar Cards
The SALT Advent Calendar features printable cards with illustrations for each day of the season. The cards include activities to do on weekdays and scriptures and meditations to read on Sundays. You can put the cards in numbered envelopes, as SALT suggests, hang them up, or use them in another way. We love the beauty of these. The personal use download is $10, and they offer very reasonable increased costs for use on a larger scale. They have a handful of other Advent and Christmas resources, including “A Mason Jar Advent” calendar and “A ‘Less Is More’ Christmas Poster and Devotional” on their Digital/Printable Resources page.
Rituals & Prayers Advent Calendar
Families Celebrate Advent & Christmas 2023-2024 contains cards for each day of the Advent and Christmas seasons with illustrations, short reflections, practices, and prayers. These are great for families to incorporate rituals or activities into their day-to-day lives during these seasons. The pack of cards is $9.99 and is published by Augsburg Fortress. You can also download a free promotional pack on their website with ideas for using the cards in your church and several coloring pages.
“It’s Advent!” Poster
“Slow Down. Quiet. It’s Advent!” is an Advent poster calendar from Forward Movement. It includes illustrations, scriptures, and activities to do to prepare for Christmas. The cost of $15 per pack of 25 posters is even manageable on a large scale, and the price decreases to $12 per pack if you purchase 3 or more packs of 25.
Scripture Advent Calendar
Be on the lookout for the December 2023 “Everyday Faith Calendar” from Concordia Publishing House. Throughout the year, they offer monthly calendars that include daily scripture passages to read and questions for reflection. These are great ways to start daily faith practices at home. The December calendar isn’t out yet, but you can see previous months to get an idea of what to expect.
BIPOC Leaders Advent Calendar
For Advent 2021, the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Massachusetts published a “BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Leaders Advent Calendar.” Each day gives people an opportunity to learn about a different leader. The calendar is ordered from December 1 – 24, so it can be adapted to this year’s Advent season as well. You can check out their BIPOC Leaders Advent calendar website.
“How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” Calendar
A Sanctified Art has released their 2023 Advent resources, and the collection includes printable “How Does a Weary World Rejoice? Advent Calendars for Children and Adults.” Their 2023 focus is “practicing joy in a weary world.” The children’s calendar involves coloring a part of the calendar for each day of Advent, and both the children’s and adult calendars suggest daily activities to invite joy into the season. Both calendars are sold together. Copies for personal use can be purchased for $5 each, and copies for church use can be purchased at varying rates by quantity starting at $20 for up to 25 copies.
Illustrated Advent Calendar
Illustrated Ministry has developed “An Illustrated Advent Calendar” as a digital printable for family or church use. As of this article’s publication date, three different editions of the calendar are currently available: a geometric shapes design, one that features shepherds and stars, and a new version with strands of Christmas lights. Each edition begins on December 1 and ends on Christmas and involves coloring and other activities. Pricing is on a sliding scale for the shepherds and stars edition ($2.99 for a household, $9.99 – 15.99 by church size) and a flat rate of $11.99 for the light strands and geometric editions.
Outdoor Advent Calendar
Although this list of calendars is designed to focus on faith-related resources, one calendar that isn’t explicitly Christian deserves mention. 1000 Hours Outside, a practice launched by Ginny Yurich to promote time outdoors for children and families, created a free “Outdoor Advent Calendar.” It includes 29 activities to do outside, and two different versions are available: one tailored to warm climates and another for cool areas. Because the calendar is undated, it can be used in any Advent season. It can be a helpful resource for incorporating creation care into your Advent celebration.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on November 2, 2020. It has been revised, updated, and republished for 2023 with the author’s permission.
Building Faith is published by Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. Our mission is to equip and inspire churches and individuals for the ministry of Christian education and faith formation.
We believe that Christian education means helping all ages – children, youth, and adults – grow in the knowledge and love of God. We also know that formation happens in many ways: worship, church school, faith at home, outreach, mission, camp, and more.
Church of the Redeemer
Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
This is the weekly bulletin insert from the Episcopal Church, Advent 4 (C).
Fourth Week of Advent: Journeying in the World
As we come closer to the joy and promise of the Incarnation, we invite you to continue journeying the Way of Love. Consider this week which of the seven practices captured your imagination this Advent. Which challenged you or brought the most joy? Where did you find blessings or cross boundaries? Where is God calling you to witness to salvation being birthed into the world today?
For more Advent resources related to the Way of Love, visit The Way of Love. There, you’ll find links to the full Advent curriculum Journeying the Way of Love, as well as Living the Way of Love in Community, a nine-session curriculum for use anytime.
Sunday, December 19: Worship
Linger before leaving your worship time today. How is God calling you to hear and sing along with Mary’s Song? Read Luke 1:39-55.
Monday, December 20: Go
Go out into your neighborhood today. Where is God at work? Ask God to show you how you can celebrate that good work and name God’s presence in your community.
Tuesday, December 21: Learn
Read Habakkuk 2:1-4. Does this reading remind you of Thomas the disciple? Why do you think the folks who organized the lectionary picked this reading from the Old Testament for this friend of Jesus?
Wednesday, December 22: Pray
Pray along with the Collect for Advent 4, found on page 212 in The Book of Common Prayer. Pick three or four of your beloveds to focus your prayers on today. Make sure to leave some silent space for God to offer you some wisdom about what they may need right now.
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation,
that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a
mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thursday, December 23: Bless
Make sure to pick up an extra present or two—a nice candy sampler or a warm pair of slippers or pajama pants, just in case you have extra friends or guests drop by. Ask God to bless those who travel and those who may be alone in the coming days. Take some bottled water and sports drinks over to your local community cold weather shelter. They will be extra glad to have that during the winter months.
Friday, December 24: Turn
If you are gathering with friends and family today, consider taking time during the meal to turn to the folks on your right, and then on your left, to thank them for their love in your life. See how this might spread some joy and comfort around the table—or maybe even ease some potentially prickly guests.
Saturday, December 25: Rest
The conventional wisdom is that new parents should rest when the baby is resting. Make sure you take some time out to rest with Baby Jesus—and marvel in the wonder of a fresh, new, clean, shiny, tiny, precious start. Take a nap and thank God for the gift of Jesus and for peace at Christmas.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
In this fifth episode of season 3 of Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for Christmas Day. The texts covered in this episode are Luke 2:1-20 and John 1:1-14. Our guests this week are the following:
The Rev. Charles Graves IV, a college campus minister in Houston, Episcopal Diocese of Texas, and a member of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church.
Hazel Monae (she/her), a lover of freedom who serves as the missioner for Equity & Justice with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton is of Indigenous, Shackan First Nation, and European heritage. She is rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Everett, Washington, serves on the board of the Anglican Indigenous Network, and cofounded the Circles of Color advocacy network in the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia.
Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. For more information visit Becoming Beloved Community.
Find the episode online or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community
Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. Coming this Advent, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice.
You’ll hear ancient texts interpreted in new ways, find fodder for preaching and teaching, and make present day connections to the prophetic voices of the Bible. This podcast will help us rethink how we hear, see, and interact with the lectionary readings, refocusing from the rush of the Christmas season to the voice crying out in the wilderness.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
This is the weekly bulletin insert from the Episcopal Church, Advent 3 (C).
Third Week of Advent: Journeying with Community
As we continue our Advent walk, we invite you to see the Way of Love as a journey that includes the community. The witness of Zechariah and Elizabeth who bring infant John to the Temple to be circumcised reminds us of the importance of our faith community to sustaining the Way of Love. Just as the community did for John’s family, communities provide a place for discernment, sometimes challenging us and other times affirming us. Communities celebrate and mark important moments along the journey.
For more Advent resources related to the Way of Love, visit The Way of Love. There, you’ll find links to the full Advent curriculum Journeying the Way of Love, as well as Living the Way of Love in Community, a nine-session curriculum for use anytime.
Sunday, December 12: Worship
Imagine the faces you’d like to see at church—an all-star list of folks you want to worship with. This could be people you know from summer camp when you were a kid, people who might have already died, people you work with—all your favorites. Commit to pray for those folks this week. And make a commitment to ask one of your all-stars to come to church with you in the next month.
Monday, December 13: Go
Take a new or different route to work, or school, or out to run errands. See how using a different route requires you to see the world differently—to pay a different kind of attention. What do you notice along the way that makes you stop and take a second look? Does anything on this new route inspire your faith journey or remind you of lessons learned?
Tuesday, December 14: Learn
Read Luke 1:59-80. When Zechariah’s speech returns, he praises God. If you lost the power to speak for nine months like Zechariah did, what would be your first word of praise? Share this with your family, friends, and on social media.
Wednesday, December 15: Pray
Pray along with the Collect for Advent 3, found on page 212 in The Book of Common Prayer. How will prayer guide you through the rest of the week? Set aside special time today to focus your intentions on stirring up peace and spreading joy.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Thursday, December 16: Bless
Spend a significant amount of time today discerning if there is a special blessing or gift you can share with your church, a local ministry, or with your community. Ask God to inspire and equip you with the fortitude and tools to make this gift something truly memorable and heartfelt.
Friday, December 17: Turn
Turn away from the busyness of the world right now. Turn your heart and mind toward giving thanks for this time of reflection, refreshment, and renewal. Turn your attention toward how you will be resting tomorrow, and put things in place so you can make the most of your sabbath time.
Saturday, December 18: Rest
Spend at least 45 minutes outside today, without doing yard work or fixing lights or redoing bows on the garland. Take some time to just sit outside and let the air wash over you, taking away the stress and worry of the moment. Read Psalm 100 before and after your outside time. See how this psalm may help you rest and recharge your spirit.
Psalm 100 (BCP)
Jubilate Deo
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.
Know this: The Lord himself is God; *
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
This is the weekly bulletin insert from the Episcopal Church, Advent 2 (C).
Second Week of Advent: Journeying with Family and Friends
As we continue our Advent walk, we invite you to see the Way of Love as a journey that can expand to include family and friends. Mary said “yes” to the call to birth Jesus, God’s Word, into the world and immediately went in haste to share her good news with her cousin, Elizabeth—a four-day journey into the Judean hills. Isn’t that what happens when we hear good news? We are driven to go and tell others. The Way of Love is good news that demands to be shared.
For more Advent resources related to the Way of Love, visit The Way of Love. There, you’ll find links to the full Advent curriculum Journeying the Way of Love, as well as Living the Way of Love in Community, a nine-session curriculum for use anytime.
Sunday, December 5: Worship
Read Luke 3:1-6. How does the story of John the Baptist fill your heart with hope?
Monday, December 6: Go
Read or watch your local news. Ask God to open your heart and eyes to ways you can promote reconciliation and healing in your community.
Tuesday, December 7: Learn
Read Luke 1:45. Share your faith story with one new person this week. It can be someone you have known for a while who has not heard the faith part of your story.
Wednesday, December 8: Pray
Pray along with the Collect for Advent 2, found on page 211 of The Book of Common Prayer. As you are out and about for the rest of this week, notice the people you pass. Ask God to bless them in their lives and work. See how this changes the way you go about your week.
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Advent 2, BCP)
Thursday, December 9: Bless
Call or write a letter to a family member with whom you would like to have a closer relationship. Make plans in the new year to chat on the phone or meet over Zoom or in person. Let them know how much you love them and look forward to knowing them better.
Friday, December 10: Turn
Where did you struggle this week? Do you have amends or apologies or adjustments you need to make? Ask God to open your heart and mind to those opportunities for reconciliation and growth. Thank God for the gifts of mercy and love, and the courage to make the changes necessary. And then do your best, with God’s help, to make those changes.
Saturday, December 11: Rest
Set aside 30 minutes to spend in silence with your best friend today. Sure, it may feel a little weird to be silent on the phone or while sitting next to each other on the couch or across the table. Just give it a try. Make sure to set aside time after your silence to pray for each other and to say thanks for the time of rest.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
In this fourth episode of season 3 of Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for Advent 4. The texts covered in this episode are Luke 1:39-45 and Canticle 15. Our guests this week are the following:
The Hon. Warren Hawk, Isnala Ohitika (Brave Alone), who serves his tribe as a member of the Standing Rock Tribal Council. Warren is an active, lifelong Episcopalian who serves on several Episcopal boards and committees.
Dr. Sandra T. Montes, an indigenous Latina (born in Peru and raised in Guatemala) who splits her time between New York City and Houston. She holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Houston and her book,Becoming REAL and Thriving in Ministry, was published in May 2020. She is the dean of chapel at Union Theological Seminary.
Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. For more information visit Becoming Beloved Community.
Find the episode online or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community
Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. Coming this Advent, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice.
You’ll hear ancient texts interpreted in new ways, find fodder for preaching and teaching, and make present day connections to the prophetic voices of the Bible. This podcast will help us rethink how we hear, see, and interact with the lectionary readings, refocusing from the rush of the Christmas season to the voice crying out in the wilderness.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
Regardless of whether or not you really get to slow down, I hope you will, even in the hecticness, try to find time to reflect on what in your life is important beyond all things, all stuff, all material possessions, and focus on how we cure our divides and mend our relationships.
Bishop Greg Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia offers his reflections on Advent and blessings for the season.
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Advent
Advent is the first season of the church year, beginning with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continuing through the day before Christmas. The name is derived from a Latin word for “coming.” The season is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord’s nativity, and for the final coming of Christ “in power and glory.”
The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel was elected bishop on May 12, 2007, and became the eighth Bishop of Olympia in September 2007. He embraces radical hospitality that welcomes all, no matter where they find themselves on their journey of faith. He envisions a church that is a safe and authentic community in which to explore God’s infinite goodness and grace as revealed in the life and continuing revelation of Jesus Christ.
Church of the Redeemer
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
In this third episode of season 3 of Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for Advent 3. The texts covered in this episode are Luke 3:7-18 and Zephaniah 3:14-20. Our guests this week are the following:
Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. For more information visit Becoming Beloved Community.
Find the episode online or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community
Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. Coming this Advent, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice.
You’ll hear ancient texts interpreted in new ways, find fodder for preaching and teaching, and make present day connections to the prophetic voices of the Bible. This podcast will help us rethink how we hear, see, and interact with the lectionary readings, refocusing from the rush of the Christmas season to the voice crying out in the wilderness.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
This is the weekly bulletin insert from the Episcopal Church, Advent 1 (C).
First Week of Advent: Saying “Yes” to the Journey
As Advent begins this week, we invite you to orient yourself to the coming of Jesus at Christmas through the practices of Journeying the Way of Love. This journey begins by saying “yes” to God’s call to birth new life into the world—a call that is both powerful and gentle, a call that will, if fully embraced, grow beyond our imaginations, spilling out of ourselves and into our family, friends, community, and the whole world. Over the course of this holy season, we invite you to respond to that call using these daily practices, and encourage you to offer them to your friends, family, and neighbors.
For more Advent resources related to the Way of Love, visit The Way of Love. There, you’ll find links to the full Advent curriculum Journeying the Way of Love, as well as Living the Way of Love in Community, a nine-session curriculum for use anytime.
Sunday, November 28: Worship
Read Luke 21:25-36. How do the symbols of the Advent season help you understand the story of Jesus? Where do you see them in your worship today?
Monday, November 29: Go
Go out of your way to have a conversation with someone you might not normally visit with today. Ask God to open your heart to hear this person as God does.
Tuesday, November 30: Learn
Read Matthew 4:18-22 (link is NRSV). How do these verses from Matthew inspire you to read Scripture with new eyes? Try reading several different translations of this passage (Authorized, ESV). See how the language might change your reading of it.
Wednesday, December 1: Pray
Pray along with the Collect for Advent 1, found on page 211 of The Book of Common Prayer. Set a timer for three minutes to sit in silence and hear what God might be saying back to you.
Thursday, December 2: Bless
We know that angels are God’s special messengers to us, and that Gabriel spent intentional time with Mary, helping her to understand her part in God’s story. Who has shared an important lesson or their presence with you this week? Thank them today with a call or note.
Friday, December 3: Turn
Read Isaiah 58. How does this reading challenge you to think about feasts and festivals differently? How might this lesson change the way you celebrate or recognize this holy season?
Saturday, December 4: Rest
Put your phone on airplane mode and leave it in a dresser drawer for an hour or two. Whatever happens in that time, you can handle later. Give this time to yourself and Jesus, to rest and recharge for the week ahead.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
In this second episode of season 3 of Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community, we speak with Episcopalians committed to the Beloved Community about the texts for Advent 2. The texts covered in this episode are Luke 3:1-6 and Canticle 16 (The Song of Zechariah). Our guests this week are the following:
The Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, from Marquette, Michigan, Canon to the Ordinary for Discipleship and Vitality with the Episcopal Dioceseof Northern Michigan.
The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, rector of St. Christopher’s Church in Gladwyne, Diocese of Pennsylvania, and creator of The Hive online spirituality and wellness digital community.
Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s staff officer for Racial Reconciliation. For more information visit Becoming Beloved Community.
Find the episode online or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community
Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. Coming this Advent, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice.
You’ll hear ancient texts interpreted in new ways, find fodder for preaching and teaching, and make present day connections to the prophetic voices of the Bible. This podcast will help us rethink how we hear, see, and interact with the lectionary readings, refocusing from the rush of the Christmas season to the voice crying out in the wilderness.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
Rev. Canon Lauren Stanley, Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota
Katina Assimacopoulos, a medical doctor pursuing a Juris Doctorate who is from the Greek Orthodox tradition
GJ Gordy, communications director for the Navajoland Area Mission
The podcast is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, the Episcopal Church’s staff officer for racial reconciliation.
Find the episode online or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community
Across our church and our society, we are having profound dialogues about race, truth, justice, and healing. Coming this Advent, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community explores where that dialogue intersects with our faith. Join us and our invited guests as we share prophetic voices and explore the readings for each week of Advent and Christmas Day through the lens of social justice.
You’ll hear ancient texts interpreted in new ways, find fodder for preaching and teaching, and make present day connections to the prophetic voices of the Bible. This podcast will help us rethink how we hear, see, and interact with the lectionary readings, refocusing from the rush of the Christmas season to the voice crying out in the wilderness.
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
