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December 18th, 2011

Busted Halo’s 2011 Advent Surprise Calendar

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Photo Credit: Skyler Jordan (Dec. 10)

 

Advent is a precious time in the Christian calendar. The four weeks leading up to December 25 are meant to be a period of expectant waiting, as we prepare ourselves for the miraculous arrival of our Savior, in the form of a vulnerable infant born to humble parents.

The reality for most of us, though, is that these are anxious weeks of shopping and holiday planning leading up to a hectic Christmas Day. In the bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to forget what we’re waiting for.

Completely avoiding the Christmas onslaught may be impossible, but we can make an effort to maintain some connection to the spiritual foundation of this season. Busted Halo’s Advent Surprise Calendar is here to help a little with that.

In traditional Advent calendars, children open different windows throughout the season to reveal special surprises. Busted Halo’s Advent calendar brings its sense of surprise by showing you the whole calendar, but not letting you open each day and find out what’s behind the picture until that day comes along. This year’s calendar has weekly themes — hope, love, joy, and peace — that will help you connect to the significance of the season of Advent.

How the digital Advent calendar works

Each day, that day’s link in the Advent calendar will start working, leading to a special Advent-themed Daily Jolt, with an opportunity for reflection and a microChallenge. Some of the reflections come from unlikely sources, and the challenges help you to take an action, usually a small one, based on the reflection.

This year we will give away a weekly prize based on a random drawing among all the contestants who entered that week. Contestants will also be entered into the grand prize drawing for an iPad 2!

Entries must be accompanied by both email and snail mail addresses. (Don’t worry, this info won’t be given out to anyone; it just makes it easier to track contestants and winners.) The iPad 2 Grand Prize will be awarded after December 25 in a random drawing from all eligible entries received during Advent. See the contest rules here.

All you need to do to enter each week is come back to our calendar, open a day and fill out an entry form. You can enter up to once a week (and you’ll increase your chances of winning the grand prize too.)

As you await the coming of our Lord on Christmas Day, use the Busted Halo Advent calendar each day to remind yourself of what this season is really about.

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28 comments about “Busted Halo’s 2011 Advent Surprise Calendar”
Frank Koob -- November 21st, 2011 at 10:13 am

Thank you. I shared this calendar on my St. Joseph the Worker Parents Facebook page. I also embedded your Advent in Two Minutes video on my program website http://www.sjwreled.org.

Bill Coughlan -- November 21st, 2011 at 9:18 pm

I shared your calendar with Mankao, MN Serra and local clergy and Religios

Rev. Marsha Adams -- November 23rd, 2011 at 5:35 am

great video…but…don’t forget, BLUE is also the color of Advent…blue represents HOPE!

Brian Ralph -- November 26th, 2011 at 11:10 pm

Great except I live in New Zealand so need to be a day behind because you prevent peeking ahead.

charlotte miller -- November 27th, 2011 at 10:32 am

I love the calendar, but missed the first day anyway of going back?

Phil Fox Rose -- November 27th, 2011 at 1:50 pm

Charlotte, not sure what you mean. This is the first day.

lani woodall -- November 27th, 2011 at 7:44 pm

Great idea

perry beals -- November 27th, 2011 at 9:17 pm

hope i win!

Audrey Kateena -- November 27th, 2011 at 9:53 pm

Enjoyed the first “surprise” and it would be really helpful, in reducing the frustration of waiting, if we knew which time zone the calendar’s clock is set to.

Audrey Kateena -- November 27th, 2011 at 9:57 pm

Now I know the time difference for me. Although it’s nearly 2:00pm on the 28th I have another two hours to wait. :-(

Marion Phipps -- November 28th, 2011 at 11:13 am

A digital Advent Calendar – thanks Beth Taylor!

Laurie Walsh -- November 28th, 2011 at 12:57 pm

This is awesome!! I shared this 2 minute advent and calendar on my FB page. It’s just what I was looking for !! :)

Theresa Barrons -- November 28th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

lol! I just tried looking at tomorrow’s quote and got a little notice saying “no peeking”. Love this! Can’t wait to visit every morning :o)

Jo -- November 28th, 2011 at 8:53 pm

404 page not found. Is this the surprise? :-p I’m accessing via Safari on iPhone,

Kathryn Mackey -- November 29th, 2011 at 7:30 am

Great Advent Calendar

JW -- November 29th, 2011 at 10:24 am

Love the calendar! won’t let me enter the contest every day, though, just the first day :(

Kathryn Mackey -- November 30th, 2011 at 7:07 am

This is a great calendar

Mikaella -- December 1st, 2011 at 9:59 am

I’ve been entering almost every day because that’s what I thought it was supposed to be. I’m thinking I was able to because I was accessing the internet from different sources (home computer, cell, work, etc). But now I’m reading that we’re only supposed to be able to enter weekly….I don’t want to be messing up the odds so I wanted make sure I said something about it.

Barbara Wheeler -- December 1st, 2011 at 10:52 am

Hi Mikaella. Thanks for your post about this. We’ll be able to check for duplicate entries before the drawing. I hope you’re enjoying the Advent Surprise Calendar!

Nancy -- December 1st, 2011 at 11:57 am

I am enjoying the Advent Surprise Calendar. My intentions are always good but get lost in the shuffle of everyday hustle and bustle. This is keeping me on track. Thank you.

Dick Christian -- December 2nd, 2011 at 2:28 pm

If I don’t win I hope you do.

Sr. Ann Marie Slavin -- December 2nd, 2011 at 6:50 pm

Thanks for the great calendar and reflections. I like the action statements–and the fact that you provided a variety of ways of sharing it. I posted the link on my blog, http://franciscanlife.blogspot.com.

Corina Hanlon -- December 3rd, 2011 at 4:05 pm

I was looking all over for some type of Advent calendar that I could look forward to as I journey toward the manger. You guys have totally rocked it out on this one. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Allan -- December 5th, 2011 at 8:53 pm

Wow – I’m suprised at who is featured on this advent calendar. Christopher Reeve (embyro stem cell advocate), Oprah Winfrey (many ways to God). Sure these and others say some inspiring things but we need to watch what people stand for before we go quoting them.

Nancy Mottu -- December 6th, 2011 at 9:26 am

Great calender -very inspring!

Jane Anderson -- December 12th, 2011 at 10:21 pm

thanks for the sweepstakes

sondra -- December 15th, 2011 at 7:59 pm

Oh I love and games and the prizes!

Melissa Sinner -- December 27th, 2011 at 3:14 pm

Merry Christmas all of you! This was a trying Advent for me & my family and the calendar helped keep me focused for the most part. I’m glad that I was able to get back to some of the dates to “catch up” Congratulations to the winners of the contest and congratulations to the rest of us who won by finding the calendar! For Allan: please remember who Jesus hung out with… everyone has good points and bad. I know I have parts of me that may be objectionable to you, but I hope that I have parts of my life that would be inspirational as well. Same with many of the people found on the calendar. Remember – those without sin can cast the first stone! No one on earth is completely evil or completely good! Merry Christmas and here’s to a better 2012!

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