Your Advent Journey By S. Janet Gildea How have you experienced God’s faithful love in your life? This is the purpose of an Advent devotion known as the Jesse Tree. Each of the “ornaments” depicts or symbolizes an event in salvation history. Have you ever considered your own? What are the significant branches of your own genealogy of God’s saving grace? This Advent perhaps you will take time to reflect upon and draw or otherwise create your own Tree. This link will provide a resource that you can use to discover the traditional ornaments of the tree along with Scripture references that tell the story: https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/advent/the-jesse-tree/the-jesse-tree-for-the-first-week-of-advent What connection can you make between each ornament and your own journey of discernment. For example, on Monday of the first week of Advent, the ornament is an apple or fruit reminding us of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. What symbol would you choose? On Tuesday of the first week: a rainbow or ark, reminder of God’s endless mercy and compassion in the time of Noah and the flood. What symbolizes that divine mercy in your life? Wednesday of the first week: the stars of the sky remind us of God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah whose descendants will be so numerous. What depicts God’s covenantal promises for you? Thursday of the first week: a ram, the sacrifice God asked of Abraham instead of his son Isaac. What sacrifice has God asked of you? Friday of the first week: the ladder of Jacob (Gen.28:10). What tools has God provided for you to get a glimpse of God’s presence? Saturday of the first week: Joseph’s coat of many colors. What symbolizes for you the truth that you are a beloved child of God? The second week of Advent Sunday begins with the burning bush on the tree. God called out to Moses from the bush that burned but was not consumed. Where have you experienced the wonder and surprise of God’s call this year? Each day of Advent look up the traditional ornament and Scripture passage and then challenge your creativity to allow a connection to emerge with your own journey, drawn by God’s love. Look with wonder at your personal tree with its story of salvation.

Future of Charity Blog: Thanksgiving Report from the Border We remain ever conscious of our sisters and brothers on the U.S./Mexico border. Sisters of Charity and SC Associates are responding as the needs continue to present themselves. S. Tracy Kemme shares her insights in the following post to the SC Federation’s Future of Charity blog at https://futureofcharity.blogspot.com/2018/11/thanksgiving-report-from-border.html

Debunking Religious Life Myths

Sisters of Charity take to social media to refute some of the common myths related to a vocation to religious life. View them at: http://www.srcharitycinti.org/vowed/news.htm#myths

Best Advent Ever

Dynamic Catholic is offering a free online Advent email devotional series called “Tis Almost the Season.” Check it out and sign up for free at: https://dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever

Risking A Caring Response

Sisters Peggy Deneweth, Janet Gildea and Carol Wirtz have been ministering at the U.S./Mexico border for more than 25 years. What brought them to Anthony, New Mexico, was unknown, but they knew the Spirit would guide them. Read more at http://www.srcharitycinti.org/news_events/riskcaringresponse.htm

Calendar

Dec. 8, 2018 Feast of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 12, 2018 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 25, 2018 Christmas Day Jan. 6, 2019 Feast of Elizabeth Seton Mass, 2 p.m., Motherhouse chapel Jan. 8-12, 2019 Company of Charity Young Adult Trip, New Orleans, Louisiana

Members of the Sisters of Charity and the SC Federation were in New Orleans, Louisiana, in November to take part in Nuns Build 2018. The House of Charity hosted Federation Sisters and participants for the week while the group helped to rebuild New Orleans.

E-vōc   is the electronic newsletter from the Vocations Team of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati for single women wondering what new thing God is calling forth in their lives.  To join the E-Vōc mailing list, contact Erin Reder at erin.reder@srcharitycinti.org. To unsubscribe, click here . If you are interested in learning more about life as a Sister of Charity, visit our website at www.srcharitycinti.org or contact S. Monica Gundler at 513-504-5592.

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