What to expect in our Counting Down to Christmas daily emails?

In a few days we’ll begin our Advent countdown to Christmas. This year’s theme is Rhymes, Rhythms and Rituals. Today I want to let you know what to expect each day throughout Advent.

Each daily email will include the following content:

Rhyme

• A link to a specific song choice for the day
• A few lines of verse from the selected song
• A link to the song lyrics

Rhythm

A short inspirational reflection based upon the daily song choice, leading us forward towards Christmas.

Ritual

A simple ritual suggestion picking up a theme from the Rhyme or Rhythm sections.

This time of year can be very busy, and the intent of Counting Down to Christmas is to provide a few moments of intentional reflection for each day in Advent. There is nothing compulsory about any aspect of our resource.

Here’s my suggestion for approaching the daily Rhyme, Rhythm and Ritual

• Listen to the song as you have your breakfast or carry out morning chores.
• Read the Rhyme and Rhythm section some time during the morning and ponder the thoughts as you travel through your day.
• Set aside a few minutes for the Ritual some time in your afternoon or evening. Slow down and be present in the moment, taking notice of your actions and intentionally focussing on the task.

More about the Rituals

The rituals I’ve included are all fairly simple and most require little preparation. Many of them are things you’ll likely be doing throughout this period anyway such as wrapping a gift, making yourself a hot drink, putting a Christmas decoration on a tree.

The idea in turning these ordinary tasks and activities into rituals is to make them grounding exercises. When we approach these rituals with this focus, we intentionally break a familiar routine into steps, take notice of each step, remove all distractions and stay focussed in the here and now. Being present in the moment opens our hearts and minds for us to pray, to reflect and to feel calm. In our difficult times, these simple acts bring peace. They give us strength.

My specific daily suggestion for a ritual is less important than allowing yourself five or ten minutes to intentionally participate in your own choice of meaningful task and ritual. I’d love to hear what alternative rituals you come up with as we travel through Advent. You can drop your ideas into the comments.

Most days I’ll suggest something to ponder or pray as part of the ritual or you can come up with your own ideas. Prayer seems a natural response to wrap up each Rhyme, Rhythm and Ritual.

Other bonus content

There are a few extra pieces of content you’ll receive with your paid or complimentary subscription to Counting Down to Christmas.

Bible Reading Plan

There will be a link to the plan each day. There are readings for each day or you can group them together for a weekly read, or if you want to sit down and read the whole Christmas story from the Bible, you can read in one sitting. The choice is yours.

Advent Wreath and Lighting Plan

I’ll be providing a PDF with instructions for making your own very simple Advent wreath and prayers for each of the Sundays in Advent. Look for this with our first daily email on Saturday 27th November. If you want to be prepared with equipment for making yourself an Advent wreath you’ll need; 4 x tea-light candles and holders (and extra supplies to replace as required), 1 x tall pillar candle, a large dinner plate or round serving plate, loose Christmas decorations such as glass balls or branches or natural decorations such as pine cones or evergreen branches.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Bonus free content for the Twelve Days of Christmas, beginning Christmas Day and ending on Epiphany on the 6th January. This will be delivered via email to you on Sunday 12th December. You can read more about it here

If you missed yesterday’s email with explanations about listening to the full playlist you can read it here.

We’re launching our annual Counting Down to Christmas this Saturday 27th November. If your status in receiving this email is showing as Paid or Complimentary you’re all set to receive the daily content. If you are a Free subscriber you may want to upgrade so you don’t miss out.