A Plan for Your Advent
This Advent, enter into the drama of the birth of Christ.
Four weeks to enter into the miracle of why Jesus was born.
Four questions that open up the epic mystery and drama of what God is doing:
Why is there something rather than nothing?
Why is everything so obviously messed up?
What, if anything, has God done about it?
How should I respond?
These four big questions can be simplified to four words which give us our plan for Advent:
Created
Captured
Rescued
Response
Each week of Advent, we will open up one of these big questions, using the daily Scripture readings from Mass to enter into the mystery and drama of the story of our salvation. Each day will take us deeper into the epic mystery and drama of why Jesus was born and what it means for us.
This Advent, discover in a new and fresh way the meaning and purpose of Christmas, why God came to rescue us, and why you are worth rescuing. Join us for The Advent of Rescue.
What Do I Need?
Three things:
1. The Advent of Rescue daily devotional (available for purchase after Masses the weekend of Nov. 29/30 or the Parish Office during regular business hours)
2. Your Bible
3. Time to spend with God in quiet prayer and reflection
What do I do?
Three things:
1. Spend time with Jesus in the daily Scripture readings and reflections from The Advent of Rescue.
2. Join us each Sunday evening of Advent from 7-8p.m. in the church for retreat time with Jesus. Each Sunday night will prepare us for the week to come. Spending time with Jesus in the Eucharist, we will let him till the soil of our hearts, preparing us for the upcoming week’s reflections and daily prayer.
3. Watch the Rescue videos with Fr. John Riccardo to go deeper into each week’s theme and the four big questions that get us ready for Christmas. (Video links can be found below)
The Rescue Project Videos and Resources to Accompany The Advent of Rescue
Week 1 of Advent: Created
The Rescue Project: Chapter 1
Why Stories Are Important
The Rescue Project: Chapter 2
Why is There Something Rather Than Nothing
Week 2 of Advent: Captured
The Rescue Project: Chapter 3
The Enemy is the Enemy
The Rescue Project: Chapter 4
It Gets Worse
Week 3 of Advent: Rescued
The Rescue Project: Chapter 5
What If Anything Has God Done About It?
The Rescue Project: Chapter 6
What Difference Does It Make?
Week 4 of Advent and Christmas: Response
The Rescue Project: Chapter 7
Words Are Not Enough
The Rescue Project: Chapter 8
What Does God Want From Me
The Rescue Project: Chapter 9
Getting Clarity on the Mission
Prayer for Surrender
God, I believe that out of your infinite love, you created me.
I'm sorry for all the times I have believed the enemy's lies that you are not a good Father and that you don't love me.
Please forgive me for all of my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus to rescue me from sin, death, hell and Satan.
I choose this day to place your Son, Jesus, at the center of my life.
And so, today, here and now, I surrender to you, Jesus, and desire your lordship over every area of my life.
I ask you now to flood my soul with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Help me to know my true identity as a beloved son/daughter.
Help me to know that I matter and that I am worth dying for.
Recreate me to be the person you destined me to be.
Please use me as an instrument in your merciful hands to rescue others and to help recreate this world that you so love. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Link to pdf version: Prayer for Surrender