Advent Reflections Archive

Note: To download a media file (MP3 or MP4) to your computer, right click on the link and select "Save link as...". If you just want to view or listen to the audio or video, simply click the link.

2020

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

CHA is pleased to continue our annual tradition of providing a series of Advent reflections, as well as one for Christmas Day. But for 2020, we knew we needed something different! This is a time when safety and distancing called us to look to the digital realm to bring to life the story of Jesus' coming. SO CHA developed several resources:

So please journey with CHA through Advent through our varied options:

  1. Virtual Advent Calendar. Each day, see the clue at the top of the Nativity illustration to seek and find the object that is the focus of the day. As you find the object, you will access the full reflection for the day, the video reflection and a brief message for a child.
    Go to the virtual calendar
    Note: for the best experience, we recommend using an up-to-date browser (outdated browsers such as Internet Explorer may have issues)
  2. A daily reflection handout. This folded 11x17 resource includes the Advent Nativity illustration as well as brief daily messages. Perfect to share with persons who are homebound, in residential care or others.
    Download the handout
  3. A children's coloring sheet. This sheet can be downloaded and printed for use in schools, by those homeschooling, for Sunday school classes, with grandchildren or in other ways that share the story of Jesus' coming with children.
    Download the coloring sheet
  4. Video reflections. These reflections are available on the online Advent calendar as well as below. Please download and share them across your organization for meeting openings, in electronic newsletters, etc.
CHA recognizes that technology is a gift, but also, can have limited availability. We hope you will use the Virtual Advent Calendar, but if you cannot, here are the daily reflections in hardcopy and the videos, for your ease of access.
AdventCalendarPromo

How can they be shared?

Here are ways others have shared these resources with their communities:

  • Distributing through your social media channels.
  • Including the videos as part of the looping videos that show on monitors in public spaces
  • Posting to the intranet/staff portal.
  • Sharing via weekly emails.
  • Including on the intranet and as publicly-available resources.
  • Using in hardcopy and/or as an audio reflection at meetings.
  • Posting in hardcopy in break areas and other spots for availability to staff and volunteers.
Nov. 29
Dec. 2
Nov. 30
Dec. 1

2019

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 1:

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 8:

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 15:

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 22:

Reflection for Christmas, Dec. 25:

2018

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 2:

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 9:

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 16:

Reflection for the week of Sunday, Dec. 23:

Reflection for the Week of Christmas, Dec. 25:

2017

For use the week of Dec. 3:

  • A Reflection for the First Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf) 
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 3 (3:18 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Dec. 3 

For use the week of Dec. 10:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 10 (3:04 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Dec. 10 

For use the week of Dec. 17:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 17 (4:06 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Dec. 17 

For use the week of Dec. 24:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 24 (4:01 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Dec. 24 

For Christmas:

  • A Reflection on Christmas (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Christmas (2:46 .mp3)
  • Video — Christmas

2016

For use the week of Nov. 27:

  • A Reflection for the First Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf) 
  • Audio — Week of Nov. 27 (2:46 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Nov. 27 

For use the week of Dec. 4:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 4 (2:24 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Dec. 4 

For use the week of Dec. 11:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 11 (3:10 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Dec. 11 

For use the week of Dec. 18:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 18 (3:02 .mp3)
  • Video — Week of Dec. 18 

For Christmas:

  • A Reflection on Christmas (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Christmas (2:45 .mp3)
  • Video — Christmas

2015

For use the week of Nov. 29:

  • A Reflection for the First Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Nov. 29 (2:26 .mp3)

For use the week of Dec. 6:

  • A Reflection for the Second Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 6 (3:42 .mp3)

For use the week of Dec. 13:

  • A Reflection for the Third Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 13 (2:51 .mp3)

For use the week of Dec. 20:

  • A Reflection for the Fourth Week of Advent (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Week of Dec. 20 (2:39 .mp3)

For Christmas:

  • A Reflection on Christmas (.doc) (.pdf)
  • Audio — Christmas (2:53 .mp3)

2014

For use the week of Nov. 30:

For use the week of Dec. 7:

For use the week of Dec. 14:

For use the week of Dec. 21:

For Christmas:

2013

For use the week of Dec. 1:

For use the week of Dec. 8:

For use the week of Dec. 15:

For use the week of Dec. 22:

For Christmas:

2012

For use the week of Dec. 2:

For use the week of Dec. 9:

For use the week of Dec. 16:

For use the week of Dec. 23:

For Christmas:

2011

For use the week of Nov. 27:

For use the week of Dec. 4:

For use the week of Dec. 11:

For use the week of Dec. 18:

For Christmas:

2010 

For use the week of Nov. 28:

For use the week of Dec. 5:

For use the week of Dec. 12:

For use the week of Dec. 19:

For Christmas:

2009 

For use the week of Nov. 22:

For use the week of Nov. 29:

For use the week of Dec. 6:

For use the week of Dec. 13:

For use the week of Dec. 20:

For Christmas:

2008 

For use the week of Nov. 23.

For use the week of Nov. 30:

For use the week of Dec. 7:

For use the week of Dec. 14:

For use the week of Dec. 21:

For use for Christmas:

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