Gena L. Thomas
  • Home
  • About
  • Writings
    • #WOCwithPens
    • Books >
      • Separated by the Border
      • A Smoldering Wick
      • Alisa & The Coronavirus
      • Contributed Books
    • Publications
    • Blog
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Store

BLOG

advent calendar 2020

11/27/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
If you struggle during this season to stay focused on Christ and his birth because of all of the distractions of commercialism starting with Black Friday and leading right up to December 25, Covid logistics for get-togethers, the perfect presents for every so-and-so, you are not alone. I used to get so frustrated during this season because it seems to not be about Christ at all (I wrote a blog post in my early 20s called why I hate Christmas.) But then I learned about  Advent — and the church calendar in general — and it's given me a way to stay focused on Christ.

I've created a Nouns & Verbs Advent 2020 calendar as a mini morning devotional for 25 days leading up to the day we celebrate Christ's birth. Little prompts to go with each day. I'll be sending it out December 1 in my monthly newsletter, so sign up by November 30 on my homepage: genathomas.com
1 Comment
William A. link
2/9/2022 09:26:21 pm

It's interesting to hear that you once wrote about hating Christmas. I've encountered that sentiment before and can only hope that more of those who expressed it will delve deeper, as you did. It's as if the "faux Christmas" -- that now-gaudy period between Black Friday and 12/24 -- is a "straw man". The consumerist madness, the intrusive music blaring in stores -- this is not, of course, Christmas in any true sense. Focusing on the quiet of Advent is an antidote to getting swept up in the commercial "season". I'm glad you discovered that. After Advent, I turn my focus to reinforcing the idea of a season -- thus, the Christmas Octave, the Twelve Days, and Christmastide. It is like a light shining forth into the darkness of January.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Gena's
    Reading
     RECS
    for STMs:

    Linked button to Kennedy Odede's article Slumdog Tourism
    Linked button to Claudio Oliver's article Why I Stopped Serving the Poor

    Categories

    All
    Abundance
    Evangelical
    Foster Care
    Immigration
    JustMissions
    Poetry
    Publishing
    Racial Justice
    Social Media
    WOCwithPens

    Archives

    October 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    July 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    August 2014
    February 2014

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • About
  • Writings
    • #WOCwithPens
    • Books >
      • Separated by the Border
      • A Smoldering Wick
      • Alisa & The Coronavirus
      • Contributed Books
    • Publications
    • Blog
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Store