Meditate

 Did you know St. Mark Presbyterian Church has an Advent Spirituality Center downstairs in the Youth Lounge for all to visit and meditate.  There are 9 stations for your to prepare for the birth of the Christ Child.

Journey

Luke 2New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

One of the stations invites you to join the journey to Bethlehem. "The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem was approximately 80 miles.  A man leading a donkey with a pregnant woman would arrive within 5 to 6 days of walking.  Imagine such a journey in your life"

Luke 1 (Bible Blackout)

Take a copy of the text, read it through once or twice, letting the words sink into your heart, gainings some familiarity with the poem.  After you read through the passage a third time, mark through any words that you don't connect with.  Do this exercise 2-3 times.  After you have marked out words, what remains? What words have you no touched.  How might God be speaking to you through these words?  What connections do you have with the remaining words?  Consider, if you like, writing some of the remaining words on the big newsprint provided so that as a community we can see how God is speaking to each of us individually and collectively.

Candle Prayer

 Take one of the candles provided and hold it in your hand. Close your eyes and  breathe deeply.  Consider a person or situation in your life that needs prayer .  Consider someone who is sick.  Consider someone who is going through a transition.  Consider someone who is lonely.  Consider someone full of joy and celebration.  Consider someone who needs God's direction and guidance.  Place your lit candle in the tray.

  Water Prayer

Use a pen to write a prayer of release to God.  Consider something you need to let go of, to wash away, to release.  Write a word or two on your hand that represents this prayer.  Then using a towel and the water in the bowl, wash your hands of this word.  As you do, be at peace knowing that God carries your burdens wth you and sets you free of that which weighs you down.  In Christ we find freedom and release Thanks be to God.

Take What You Need

There are many other stations including a labyrinth to help with meditation.  The room is open Wed. and weekends during Advent.