Pastor Jerry's Advent Challenge
to the people of the UPG!
Fourth Week of Advent 2020 - Dec. 20-24
Share the gift of Hope
1. For my Facebook friends, or for people who utilize social media. Let’s fill social media this week with messages of hope within the world in which we live. Point to those people, places, things, you bear witness that inspires us to have hope! Hope in God, hope in one another, hope for the future. Then ask your friends to “Go and Tell” others about the places in which they are inspired by hope in the world.
2. If you don’t use social media, call a friend or two and share stories about the hopes that you have in God; for Christmas, for the world around you. Then ask your friends to “pay the gift forward” and ask them to call a friend or two and share the same topic.
See some suggested readings on "Hope"
Third Week of Advent 2020 - Dec. 14-20
Share the gift of Presence
1. For my facebook friends, or for people who utilize social media. Let’s fill social media this week with messages of God’s presence within the world in which we live. Point to those people, places, things, you bear witness to which remind you that God is absolutely, positively, present in the world in which we live. Then ask your friends to “Go and Tell” others about the places in which they see God at work in the world.
2. If you don’t use social media, have a friend or two over for tea and conversation. Share with them that in the busyness of the season, you simply wanted to slow down and spend time with them. Then; ask them about the places and events in which they see God at work in the world around them. Invite them to “Go and tell” others about what they see.
See some suggested readings on "Presence"
Second Week of Advent 2020 - Dec. 7 - 13
Share the gift of Invitation
1. For my facebook friends, or for people who utilize social media. Let’s fill social media this week with messages of invitation. Letting people know that they are invited, welcomed, accepted and loved by God…. Right now! For the people who they are in this moment, not for who they will become in the future. You may also think about inviting your friends and family to join us for online worship celebrations that we are offering; our prayers and Scripture journals, our “Just for You!” reflections, our “Daily Pause” offering, our mid-week Advent video, or our weekly worship celebration just to name a few!
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2. If you don’t use social media, let’s invite people to talk to you about how they are worshipping during this season of Advent. Call them and perhaps read one of your favorite Bible passages with them. Tell these people what strengthens your relationship with God and with others in the world around you!
See some suggested readings on "Invitation"
First Week of Advent 2020 - Nov. 29 - Dec. 6
Share the gift of Hope
We are asking that all people within our community of faith intentionally share the gift of “HOPE” with the world in which we live.
1. For our facebook friends, or for people who utilize social media. Let’s fill social media this week with messages focused on “Hope!” Every day of the week, let’s each one of us post a message that shares “hope” for the world.
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2. If you don’t use social media, let’s share messages of hope with our friends and family. Perhaps you can send a card to someone you know could use a bit of encouragement, perhaps you could call a friend to remind them to hold on to hope.