Dear West Virginia Annual Conference Family and Friends,
You’re invited! 
We will soon enter the season of Advent as we prepare for the birth of our Savior. I anticipate experiencing Advent differently this year and I suspect the same may be true for you. However, I also know what won’t change. Advent will still be an expectant season. Christmas will continue to be a twelve-day celebration. And Epiphany remains an example of the discipleship journey.
I invite you to join me and others from the West Virginia Conference on this journey of expectation and celebration through our annual Advent Study. This year, the study begins on the first Sunday of Advent (November 29) and continues to Epiphany (January 6). I hope you will participate in these daily devotions by pondering scripture, reading a short message, and sharing in the closing prayer.
You don’t want to miss these devotions. As I read each one and prepared them to be shared with you, it quickly became evident that these messages of hope, peace, love, light, understanding, and joy are all Spirit-led and Spirit-filled. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. I am certain they will be an important part of your Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons. Please invite your church, your family, and your friends to enjoy these daily devotions as well.
I am grateful to Eva Hensley Faulkner, our new Associate Lay Leader, for her leadership in compiling and editing the devotions. I am also grateful for each of our gifted lay persons who served as authors of the devotions. We are fortunate to have a truly wonderful, dedicated group of lay leaders throughout our Conference! (In fact, a sample devotion for you on this day can be found below.)
If you would like to receive a digital version of this devotional daily via email, please go to the conference website at wvumc.org and subscribe. Scroll down to the bottom of the opening landing page and click on the Explore Subscriptions button.
I wish you abundant blessings throughout the holiday season, and a happy and healthy new year 2021. May we continue to offer God’s grace to all.
Kristi Wilkerson
Conference Lay Leader
Lay.Leader@wvumc.org
ps Download the entire booklet by clicking on this link. (Microsoft Word Version Here)
January 3
Celebrating Our Blessings During Difficult Times
Julie Keehner
Wesleyan District
