by Matt Rawle (Abingdon Press, 2016)
Advent 2016 Bellwood and St. Luke’s United Methodist Churches are seeking to grow in the knowledge and love of God this Advent season with the help of Matt Rawle’s Redemption of Scrooge. Worship and sermons will explore topics raised in the book as they relate to particular scriptures, themes of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and general themes of Christian faith. You can participate in a number of overlapping ways. Some content will be repeated or rearticulated, but each area of participation should bear its own fruit. These are the ways you can participate: - Worship attendance each Sunday at 9am (Bellwood) and 10:30am (St. Luke’s) - Read The Redemption of Scrooge on your own (copies are available or you can purchase an E-book). - Study Groups (with or without reading the book) led by Pastor Matt: Wednesdays at 9am (Bellwood) and 6:30pm (St. Luke’s).
Reading Guide If you’re reading the book, there are two basic ways to read it. One, you can sit down and read a chapter at a time. If you begin before each Lord’s Day in Advent, this will prepare you for worship and the upcoming week’s Wednesday group. Alternatively, you can read each subsection of the book as a sort of daily devotional. An outline for this method of reading is below. Should you choose this method of reading, the worship/sermon experience will introduce some of the key ideas, which you’ll explore in greater depths throughout the week. Wednesday group conversations will cover some material you’ve read and introduce some you’ll read soon.
Related Scriptures In the reading guide below, you’ll find some suggested scriptures. Rawle reflects on many of these scriptures throughout that chapter/week. They may also be lifted up during worship on Sundays.
“A Quick Refresher” In this chapter, author Matt Rawle’s review of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Read this section to remind yourself of Dickens’ classic story. You can also read or listen to the story (from the library, free audiobook, or free e-book).
Chapter 1 – First Week of Advent (beginning Sunday, November 27) -
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Scriptures o Matthew 1:1-17 o Matthew 20:1-16 o Mark 1:1-13 o Luke 1:1-38 Sunday: Bah! Humbug! Monday: Marley Was Dead Tuesday: Sing We Now Of Christmas Wednesday: God Rest You Merry, Gentleman
o o o o -
Luke 1:46-55 John 1:1-18 Galatians 6:7 Colossians 2:13-14
Thursday: Marley’s Ghost Friday: You Cannot Serve Two Masters Saturday: Reflection: A New View
Chapter 2 – Second Week of Advent (beginning Sunday, December 4) -
Scriptures: o Matthew 2:13-23 o Luke 16:19-31 o Galatians 1:13-24
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Sunday: The Remembrance of Christmas Past Monday: Wise Men at the Nativity Tuesday: A Glimpse of Redemption Wednesday: A Season of Senses: Sight and Taste
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Thursday: A Season of Senses: Sound and Touch Friday: The Order of Candles Saturday: Reflection: Pictures of the Past
Chapter 3 – Third Week of Advent (beginning Sunday, December 11) -
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Scriptures: o Exodus 16:13-21 o Matthew 20:1-16 Sunday: The Life of Christmas Present Monday: Want, Need, Wear, Read Tuesday: Good News, For Some Wednesday: Cratchits & Crutches
o Luke 2:1-10 o Luke 15:1-10 -
Thursday: Eyes to See Friday: God Bless Us, Every One Saturday: Reflection: Laughter
Chapter 4 – Fourth Week of Advent (beginning Sunday, December 18) -
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Scriptures: o 1 Samuel 3:1-10 o Psalm 42:1-5 o Luke 19:1-9 Sunday: The Hope of Christmas Future Monday: A Grim Reaper Tuesday: A Silent Spirit Wednesday: Will Be, or May Be?
o John 4:4-30 o Acts 3:1-10 -
Thursday: Carol of the Bells Friday: Keep Christmas Well Saturday: Reflection: A New Day
