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Advent and Christmas:
Whose birthday is it anyway?
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| Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?
Here's a helpful resource for celebrating Advent and
Christmas without getting overwhelmed by the lures of commercialism.
[11-22-02]
Thanks to Bruce Gillette!
Our Book of Order states that one of the "great
themes of the Reformed tradition" is "A faithful stewardship
that shuns ostentation and seeks proper use of the gifts of God's
creation" (G-2.0500). John H. Leith's Introduction
to the Reformed Tradition: A Way of Being the Christian Community
also highlights simplicity as an important part of our Presbyterian
heritage. Sadly, we American Presbyterians too often get caught up in
our consumer culture, including the commercialization of our Lord's
birth.
The 2002 edition of Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?
is a wonderful resource that needs to be in every home. This ecumenical
resource is done annually by Alternatives, "the organization that
equips people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and
celebrate responsibly. Started in 1973 as a protest against the
commercialization of Christmas, our focus is on encouraging celebrations
that reflect conscientious ways of living." You can see the table
of contents of this fine resource for families and individuals online at
the web site of Alternatives
for Simple Living.
See also the online
promotional kit for this advent resource: http://www.simpleliving.org/xb/PromoKit.html
The biblical
reflections on the lectionary texts for Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?
are written by Jim & Kathy McGinnis, directors of the Institute for
Peace and Justice and the authors of many fine resources, including the
popular Parenting for Peace and Justice. Check out this
Institute's web site at http://www.ipj-ppj.org/
The
2002 edition of Whose Birthday Is It Anyway? is available for
free (thanks to the Presbyterian Hunger Program) from Presbyterian
Distribution Service at 1-800-524-2612 or email at
pds@ctr.pcusa.org
(PDS Item # 7436001302)
Order
multiple copies now for your church and encourage other Presbyterian
friends in your area or online to get copies for their congregations.
Grace and
Peace,
Bruce
Bruce &
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Co -Pastors
First
Presbyterian Church, 305 South Broadway, Pitman NJ 08071
Office Phone:
(856) -589 -1050
Home Phone: (856) -589 -8444
Email: Bruce.Gillette@ecunet.org
Church Fax: (856) -589 -1051
Church
website: http://www.firstpresby.org/
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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