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e-Treasures for Advent
A Web-based Daily Calendar for Advent and Christmas
Exploring Alternatives
The following calendar can be used any year. The Sunday reading are given for cycle C. The readings for Cycles A and B are given below. You can easily substitute the readings for the year/cycle of your choice.
The purpose of the calendar is to explore the riches of Alternatives' Advent/Christmas Archives step-by-step, one day at a time. Some days include multiple offerings. You may want to read them and select your favorite.
All of the resources and articles listed in this calendar on Alternatives' web site are also available on one CD-ROM (along with many other resources for Easter, weddings, etc.), "Simply the Best: Over 30 Years of Alternatives."
Since Christmas and Epiphany are fixed dates but Advent always begins on a Sunday, you may need to adjust the dates to accommodate the current year.
The point is to encourage people to give more to needy people and to spend less on themselves!
e-Treasures for Advent
A Web-based Daily Calendar for Advent and Christmas
This year pledge to refuse to have our holy day subverted by advertising. Instead of shopping and fretting over stuff, spend time becoming aware of real needs - ours and others - and the ways to meet those needs.
As a family, investigate the causes and organizations listed in this calendar (and elsewhere) to support with money you collect. Choose a percentage early in the season (from 25% to 100%). Then give that amount every time you spend any money for Christmas (even if it's for food, decorations, etc.) -- in addition to the amount you normally give away. Decorate a can to hold the money. Put it on display. 20 bucks on a tree? Then $ __ goes in the can. This money is not a penalty but a way to help our need to help others. Donate the money on Epiphany, the day the Magi offered their gifts to Jesus.
The names and addresses of many helpful, worthy organizations are available on Alternatives' web site.
New BONUS Resources:
Oct. 1 or Nov. 1 - Call a family meeting talk about Christmas expectations. What do each of us really want? Who is going to do what? What is really most meaningful? Are we willing to spend less on ourselves and give more to the needy? Write down and post decisions and changes to consider. In advance, peruse Alternatives' Christmas Campaign Kit. Then use "Let's Talk about Christmas" at the meeting.
Get help with Alternative Giving in Reclaiming Christmas, in Gifts of Peace, or in A Simple Christmas.
If you want to involve (or at least forewarn) your friends and relatives of your plans to simplify Christmas, read "What to Tell the Folks," or "Making a Change for the Better," or "The Rewards of Changing Our Gift-Giving Patterns"
Oct. 24 - Participate in TimeDay.orgTake Back Your Time Day.
Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving Day (USA). Helpful background and ideas on Thanksgiving and other fall festivals.
28 - Participate in International Buy Nothing Day on this, the biggest shopping day of the year, by doing no shopping, by writing a letter to the editor promoting sustainability. Visit www.Adbusters.org or call 800-663-1243.
29 - Advent Eve. Familiarize yourself with Alternatives' Christmas Campaign Kit. Parts of it will be suggested for use throughout Advent.
Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas
Sunday, Advent 1. Read & meditate on Jer. 33:14-16; Ps. 25:1-10; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice. Discuss the best place to post the "Whose Birthday" bumpersticker. Bumper? Bulletin board? Refrigerator? Front door?
Read Advent study/activity guides for adults or intergenerational groups, such as
Read reflections from past editions of "Whose Birthday?,"
Monday - Read (and perform?) the puppet play "I Will Write Peace On Your Wings."
Tuesday - Begin " Treasury of Celebrations: "Introduction & Preface"
Wednesday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations, Part 1: Making Choices"
Thursday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations: Simple Living"
Friday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations: Gift Giving"
Saturday - make-up day in case you missed a day this week
Dec. 6 - Saint Nicholas Day. Learn more about the story of Bishop Nicholas at:
Sunday, Advent 2. Read & meditate on Mal. 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Phil. 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice. Discuss "Buy Me Nothing, I'll Still Love You." Read "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas"
Monday - Learn about Las Posadas
Tuesday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations: Food and Celebration"
Wednesday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations: Getting Started"
Thursday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations, Part 2: Gifts"
Friday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations, Part 3: Advent"
Saturday - make-up day in case you missed a day this week
Sunday, Advent 3. Read & meditate on Zeph. 3:14-20; Isa. 12:2-6; Phil. 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice. Discuss "Bearing Gifts Does Not Make Us Wise."
Read "Toys for Children: Giving Fish or Scorpions" or "Peace On Earth: Saying 'No' To War Toys"Monday - Read (and perform?) the play "The Land of Sharing"
Tuesday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations: Christmas"
Wednesday - Continue "Treasury of Celebrations: Celebrations: Sep-Dec"
Thursday - Go exploring. For a list of other valuable web sites.
Friday - Continue exploring.
Saturday - make-up day in case you missed a day this week
Sunday, Advent 4. Read & reflect on the Promises in Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:47-55 or Ps. 80:1-7; Heb. 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 (46-55). Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice. Discuss "What Is a Gift?" Read the touching story "Almost PerfecT"
Monday - Read (and perform?) Jason's Birthday.
Tuesday - Read "A Tale of Two Christmases," "Congregational Self‑Evaluation" and "Luke 16:19‑31 (paraphrased)" at Christmas Pack Index.
Wednesday - Go exploring at a list of other valuable web sites.
Thursday - Continue exploring.
Friday - Continue exploring.
Saturday - make-up day in case you missed a day this week
24 - Christmas Eve. Read and meditate on Isa. 9:2-7; Ps. 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-4 (15-20). Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice. Play "The Christmas Game." Read the touching story "Christmas in SMALLTOWN"
25 - Christmas Day. Read & meditate at dawn on Isaiah 62:6-12; Titus 3:4-7 &/or Luke 2: (1-7) 8-20. Later read & meditate on Isaiah 527-10; Hebrews 1:1-4(5-12); &/or John 1:1-14.
Read "The Simpler Living Alternatives Calendar for Any Year: The Purpose of This Calendar; How to Use This Calendar."
Read all 12 months during the 12 days of Christmas, one month per day. Then make a commitment to re-read it for the entire year, day-by-day or week-by-week.
26 - Read January: The Life Principles of Voluntary Simplicity - Do Justice; Learn from the World Community; Nurture People; Non-Conform Freely
27 - Read February: Celebrating More Responsibly - Music/Worship; Preparing For Lent, Easter and Other Spring Festivals; Rites of Passage; What Is "Enough"?
Holy Family Sunday - Christmas 1. Read and meditate on 1 Sam. 2:18-20, 26; Col. 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice. Discuss your feelings about the changes you made this year.
28 - Celebrate Holy Innocents Day.
Read March: Global Justice - Hunger & Homelessness; Peace/Violence; Advocacy/Boycotts
29 - Read April: Environment - Life Principle #5: Cherish the Natural Order - Water; Energy; Chemicals & Waste; Consumables
30 - Read May: Environment - The 4 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Restore
31 - New Year's Eve. Read June: Alternative Giving - Contributions; Volunteering; More Alternative Giving; Planning Alternative Christmas Events
January 1 - New Year's Day.Read July: Money & Goods - Green Business; Green Investing; Green Products; Personal Finance, Credit & Debt
2 - Read August: Personal Choices, Happiness, Fulfillment - Work, Stress & Health; Support; Transportation & Travel; Homes & Buildings: Construction, Energy Generating, Appliances
3 - Read September: Non-Conform Freely - Media Literacy; Advertising & Public Relations; Alternatives to TV, Video Games, Movies, Gambling; Marketing
4 - Read October: Sustenance - Food; Recipes (From Developing Countries) & Food Preparation; Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming; Gardening
5 - Read November: More Celebrating; Unplug the Christmas Machine; Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Sunday, Christmas 2. Read and meditate on Jer. 31: 7-14; Ps. 147: 12-20; John 1:10-18. If you celebrate Epiphany today, share that reflection in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice.
6 - Epiphany. Read & meditate on Matt. 2:1-12; Ep. 3:1-12. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Sing some Carols with Justice. Discuss your plans for the coming year, including next Advent and Christmas. Use Epiphany Celebration. Offer the money you have been saving to the cause of your choice.
Read December: Responsible Celebrating; Advent; Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas; Christmas
All of the resources listed in this calendar are on the web site and also available on one CD-ROM (along with many other resources -- some in Spanish -- for Easter, weddings, etc.), "Simply the Best: Over 30 Years of Alternatives."
copyright Creative Commons (originally Alternatives for Simple Living)
Readings for Cycle A
Advent I - Read and meditate on Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24: 36-44. Share the reflection for this day in Alternatives' booklet "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Advent II - Read and meditate on Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12. Share the reflection for this day in Alternatives' booklet "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Advent III - Read and meditate on Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1:47-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11: 2-11. Share the reflection for this day in Alternatives' booklet "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Advent IV - Read and meditate on Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25. Share the reflection for this day in Alternatives' "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
24: Christmas Eve - Read and meditate on Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (15-20). Share the reflection for this day in Alternatives' "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
25: Christmas Day - Read and meditate at dawn on Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2: (1-7) 8-20. Later in the day, read & meditate on Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4 (5-12); John 1:1-14.
28: The Holy Innocents - Read and meditate on Jeremiah 31: 15-17; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Matthew 2:13-18.
Christmas I - Read and meditate on Isaiah 63:7-9; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23. Share the reflection for this day in Alternatives' "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Christmas II - Read and meditate on Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1: (1-9) 10-18.
Epiphany - Read and meditate on Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12. Share the reflection for this day in Alternatives' "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"Offer the money you have been saving to the cause of your choice.
Readings for Cycle B
Sunday, Advent 1. Read & meditate on Isaiah 64:1-9; 1 Cor. 1:3-9; &/or Mark 13:24-37. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Sunday, Advent 2. Read & meditate on Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; &/or Mark 1:1-8. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Sunday, Advent 3. Read & meditate on Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; 1 Thess. 5:16-24; &/or John 1:6-8, 19-28. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Sunday, Advent 4. Read & meditate on 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Romans 16: 25-27; &/or Luke 1:26-38. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
24 - Christmas Eve. Read & meditate on Isaiah 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; &/or Luke 2:1-14 (15-20). Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
25 - Christmas Day. Read & meditate at dawn on Isaiah 62:6-12; Titus 3:4-7 &/or Luke 2: (1-7) 8-20. Later read & meditate on Isaiah 527-10; Hebrews 1:1-4(5-12); &/or John 1:1-14. .
28: Holy Innocents Day - Read and meditate on Jeremiah 31: 15-17; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Matthew 2:13-18.
Sunday - Christmas 1. Read & meditate on Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 4:4-7; &/or Luke 2:22-40. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
Sunday, Christmas 2. Read & meditate on Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ephesians 1:3-14; &/or John 1: (1-9) 10-18. If you celebrate Epiphany today, share that reflection in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"
6 - Epiphany. Read & meditate on Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; &/or Matthew 2:1-12. Share the reflection for this day in "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?"Offer the money you have been saving to the cause of your choice.
Page updated 1 Dec. 2013
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