ADVENT CONSPIRACY 2019 – Blackhawk Church

Let’s live out the Christmas and Advent season differently.

Here at Blackhawk, we take part in a nationwide movement called Advent Conspiracy where we move away from the consumerism of Christmas and back to the real story — the gift of Jesus. We encourage everyone in our church family to buy one less gift and instead give that money to the Advent Conspiracy offering. It’s not about a dollar amount — it’s about practicing generosity toward others and the truth that more stuff won’t make us happy. Doing these small practices turns our hearts toward other people and toward God.

The Advent Conspiracy offering goes to support initiatives in Dane County and around the world and allows us, as a community, to move towards a commitment to justice and love, ultimately leading to the flourishing of local neighborhoods and global communities.

Give to the Advent Conspiracy Offering

GIVE ONLINE
To give by check, please write “Advent” in the memo line and drop in the offering boxes at your site. Giving closes on January 13. Thank you for your generosity.

Questions? Contact adventconspiracy@blackhawkchurch.org.

Gifts to the Advent Conspiracy offering will support these local and global projects

Food Storage Expansion: Adding cold and dry storage to increase capacity for frozen meat, shelf-stable food and personal care items in order to expand services to nearby neighborhoods that don’t have access to food assistance. (Badger Prairie Needs Network)
Volunteer and Resource Capacity Building: Increasing Centro Hispano’s capacity by adding two crucial positions that will deepen the quality of the volunteer experience and strengthen funding streams to help sustain the hopes of the Latino community and better engage the community at large in their mission. (Centro Hispano of Dane County)
Mental Health First Aid Training Program: Expanding the Mental Health First Aid Training program to equip more community members throughout Dane County with skills to recognize and respond to the warning signs of mental and substance abuse disorders and ways to connect to the appropriate professional, peer or self-help care. (Mental Health First Aid Training Program)
Housing Stability Program Capacity Building: Increasing capacity for the Housing Stability Program to provide more inclusive, equitable and expansive services for the growing number of clients and to expand the service area. (Middleton Outreach Ministry)
Collective Learning Space Renovations: Renovating Shepherds Table, the college’s cafeteria, to create an environment where social skills can be developed and collective learning can take place as an extension of the wholistic educational program specifically designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Shepherds College)
Combat Sex Trafficking Globally: Expanding the efforts to rescue victims, restore survivors, hold criminals accountable, and help law enforcement protect other vulnerable children and women from experiencing abuse and trauma in the Dominican Republic, India and the Philippines. (International Justice Mission)
Technology and Storage Capacity: Providing technology for field staff serving in remote communities to provide immediate access to critical data in order to better document and design water systems, health trainings and community information. (Living Water International)
WASH Program Training (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene): Training staff in Tanzania with innovative best practices, tools, and skills needed to implement WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programming, which will increase long-term sustainability and overall impact of Water Mission projects. (Water Mission)

Participate as a Family

Moving from a culture overrun with consumerism to a mindset focused on Jesus takes intentional practice at every age. What if parents and kids joined forces to focus on what Jesus would care about? Here are some ways your family can engage with Advent Conspiracy this year to make generosity part of your everyday family rhythm.

Kick off a season of generosity in your home

Model it. Kids are watching, and they will copy what you do.
Talk about it. Point out generosity as you see it. Talk about ways your family gives (that kids may not know about). Point back to how our generosity comes from God.
Practice it together. Kids need to participate in giving to make it meaningful. See one idea below.

Try something this year—make a Giving Jar
Here’s an effective visual for kids and adults alike to put Advent Conspiracy into practice. It’s just what it sounds like. A jar that can help your family start conversations about giving, spending less, and praying for those who will receive your gift.

What you’ll need: An empty jar set out in a visible place in your home

How a Giving Jar works:

Look at the Advent Conspiracy project list as a family. Narrow in on something that has meaning to those in your home. Need an idea for a kid-friendly project to talk about as a family? Check out Water Mission and learn about an organization that is helping to provide safe water for communities around the world. (Kids will be hearing more about Water Mission’s Water Projects on Sundays.)
Talk about specific ways your family can put Advent Conspiracy into practice. How will you spend less and give more? What might that look like for your unique family makeup?
Add to the jar. Over the course of Advent Conspiracy, add to your family offering each time someone intentionally takes less. Remember, being generous isn’t always about money. Being generous with your time is an offering of its own. A kind act for someone else is a gift unto itself. Write this down on a piece of paper and add it to your jar.

Buy one less stocking stuffer
Do extra jobs around your home or for a neighbor to earn money to give
Ask your kids to make a gift this year instead of buying one
Eat in rather than eat out one fewer time
Do a movie night at home instead of going to the theatre
Ask a loved one if, instead of buying you a gift, they could give that amount to Advent Conspiracy

Collect whatever your family has put together and pray over your offering. Bring your offering to your site and give it together as a family.
Empty your jars in a wrapped box in the Blackhawk Kids area at each site. To give by check, please write “Advent” in the memo line and drop in an offering box at your site. To get a tax deduction by giving by cash, use a giving envelope and label it “Advent” before dropping it in an offering box at your site.
Work together. Have fun. Be creative. Thank God. Give with joy!