The City Church family has created an Advent devotional to assist individuals and families in observing the Season of Advent this coming winter. The 2024 Advent Devotional, "Promises, A Season of Advent" can be found in the lobby of the Annex or picked up in the church office.

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Use the link below to see a digital copy of "Promises, A Season of Advent:"

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Promises

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To listen to the songs written by David Williams on pages 13 & 59, click the links below:

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He is the Light of My Life (pg. 13)

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Something Like Christmas (pg. 59)

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Us

 

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Advent Project Details

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So, you don’t come from a background where Advent has been part of your experience?  Here it is in a nutshell. “Advent” comes from an old Latin word meaning  “Coming.” In practical terms, Christians of many different backgrounds have through the centuries set aside time leading up to Christmas (His first Advent) to celebrate and contemplate through personal, group, and/or family devotions and worship; what the Coming of Jesus means to those who follow Him. Have you heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas? Think of Advent as the joyful month of Christmas where attention is given to the real meaning of the celebration and the preparation of our hearts to receive and follow the One who came and the One who will come again.

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Typically, Christians and Churches that observe Advent utilize the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas to spend time in special individual and family reflection. These four weeks have a different theme each week:

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Week 1 Theme: Hope

Week 2 Theme: Love

Week 3 Theme:  Joy

Week 4 Theme: Peace

Christmas Eve/ Day Special Theme: Jesus

 

We are asking our City Church family to form a new tradition of participation in Advent. Let’s share with each other and with other Christ followers in distant times and places this rich tradition. We’d like to develop this observance into a unique tradition that, in a special way, reflects the heart our people have for the Lord, to give Him praise.

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The resource we are putting together for Advent will contain stories, poems, devotional thoughts, songs,  and pictures of other artistic expressions to bless others with special insights about His coming (Advent). We want this content to be from the City Church family and geared toward our church family. We are requesting anyone who is part of our church and wants to submit something for potential inclusion into printed or online resources to do so.

 

Along with the themes of each week, you may, but are not required to, tie your submission(s) to Scripture and content that relates to the themes.

 

Some Scripture and thoughts for your consideration:

1. HOPE, Isaiah 11:1, Matthew 1:22, Matthew 2:6, Micah 5:2, Luke 2:8, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, Romans 6:23, Jeremiah 29:11, Acts 5:31, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Acts 5:31. What Is Biblical Hope? How does Jesus fulfill our Hope now and in the future?

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2. Peace, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 2:14, Matthew 1:23, Philippians 2:8-10, 1 Timothy 1:15-17, John 3:16, 1 John 5:11, Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:34-35, John 14:27. What is the peace of God? Why do we need peace? How does God give peace?

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3. Joy, Luke 1:14, Luke 2:10-11, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 11:1, Galatians 4:4, Luke 1:45, Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Psalms 107:1. What is Joy? What is the source of Joy? What does the Christmas message teach us about Joy?

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4. Love, Luke 2:11, Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, John 3:16, John 1:16, Philippians 2:8-10, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 23:33-34, Luke 24:46-49. What does God’s love look like today? In what ways does Christmas shine a light on the Love of God?

 

So, how about it? Let God bless others through your creativity!

 

Submissions are being accepted now through Sept. 30. You may upload your submissions by using the form below, email them to info@citychurchpc.com, or mail them to 530 Airport Rd., Panama City, FL 32405

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Types of submissions accepted:

Devotions, poems, reflections on scripture passages, personal memories, fictional Christmas stories, art, photography, songs, or other creative genres.

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Submissions should not be longer than 5oo words. Space is limited in the printed publication, however, a link to an online publication will be included. Not all submissions will be used in the printed publication. All submissions will be subjected to editing before publication.