advent

17 11, 2019

Advent Prep

By |2019-11-17T22:56:58-05:00November 17th, 2019|Alvin Lau|0 Comments

Snow is falling (and staying depending on what area of Quebec or Ontario you’re living in). Retailers have already set up their Christmas decorations. How is your youth group preparing for advent? Some considerations: What transitions are worth keeping? Contrarily, what traditions should be adapted into something different? What expressions of Advent would speak to your neighbourhood? How would the message of Jesus resonate with your community? What media would

3 12, 2018

Crazy(less) of Advent

By |2018-11-28T19:00:03-05:00December 3rd, 2018|Alvin Lau|0 Comments

The season of Advent is here. For some, it’s a month-long celebration. For many, it’s a season of stress. For others, some deep pain is associated with this time of year. Renee Embree (Director of Youth and Family Ministries with the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada) recently blogged on “How to help parents have less 'crazy' this advent & Christmas season” (http://cbacyf.ca/oneneighbourhood/2018/11/22/how-to-help-parents-have-less-crazy-this-advent-amp-christmas-season). Here are some specific things to note: Discuss

28 11, 2016

Advent …

By |2016-11-23T14:39:20-05:00November 28th, 2016|Alvin Lau|0 Comments

Can you believe Christmas is only 27 days away? The advent season has begun. What will make it unique for you and/or your youth ministry this year? Here are some thoughts: What “out of the routine” adaptation can you make? Sometimes we get so used to tradition/routine that we miss the essence of Christmas. Try varying what you do, for example if you always serve at a soup kitchen, try

8 12, 2015

Pondering at Advent

By |2016-10-31T13:57:14-04:00December 8th, 2015|Alvin Lau|0 Comments

The excitement of the coming of Jesus can be surreal at times. I can’t imagine what the first Christmas was like, to experience the juxtaposition of a dingy stable where Jesus was born to the grand angelic choir that announced his birth. Luke 2:19 tells us that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Again, after Jesus’ visit to the temple at age 12, v51

26 11, 2014

Is your Advent synonymous with "busyness"?

By |2014-11-26T20:06:18-05:00November 26th, 2014|Alvin Lau, youth ministry thoughts|0 Comments

As Advent approaches, I usually hear from our youth leaders this is one of the busiest times of year. (For us at CBOQ Youth, it's actually a slower time because no one really needs us.) While celebrations and other activities take time and energy to plan, I wonder if it becomes over-programmed. For instance, ask yourself some of these questions: As you enter December, do you feel more strained or

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