Advent devotions program with a mission emphasis

Finding Christ in Christmas turns our hearts to those in need

Finding Christ in the chaos of Christmas can be daunting. The Society of St. Andrew (Advance #801600) offers an Advent devotional program that will help you navigate the secular maze that envelops this holy holiday so that you and your family can find and put Christ in the center of the season.

Through the scriptures, daily devotions and prayers presented in the Society of St. Andrew’s (SoSA) Advent booklet, readers discover new ways to bring Christ to the center of their lives as well as reflect on and share in the work and mission of the baby in the manger, who is Emmanuel … “God with us.”

From the differing perspectives of contributing clergy and laity, this year’s theme, “Finding CHRISTmas,” focuses on ways to nourish your spirit. The program also provides an opportunity to feed your hungry neighbors, as directed by Jesus, himself. As Christians, we know that God gives us His best and calls us to give our best to Him … “just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40.

The Society of St. Andrew is a national nonprofit hunger-relief ministry that saves 20-30 million pounds of fresh, nutritious, excess produce each year that will go to waste for various marketing reasons. This food is then distributed to critical service agencies across the country at no cost to the agencies or the hungry people they serve.

During the season of Advent, SoSA asks participants to prayerfully reflect on the scriptures and devotions and then join in their ministry of feeding America’s hungry by making a financial donation. Last year donations made through SoSA’s Advent devotional program provided more than 1.2 million servings of food to the hungry. This year the need is even greater because the economic difficulties we all face affect those who have the least far worse, hurting their families at the most basic level – food for nourishment and life itself.

This year, as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, use “Finding CHRISTmas” to nourish your spirit during Advent as you feed your hungry neighbors in response to God’s command, “You give them something to eat.”

All materials for this Advent devotional program are free from the Society of St. Andrew. For a church sample kit or a personal packet, order online: www.endhunger.org/advent.htm; by phone: 800-333-4597; or by email: church@endhunger.org.

More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its hunger-relief programs – Gleaning Network, Potato & Produce Project, Harvest of Hope and Hunger Relief Advocate Initiative – is available online at http://www.endhunger.org/ or by email at sosausa@endhunger.org.