The Diocese of Washington is bringing back its popular online Advent calendar for the second year. The calendar is an electronic version of the Advent calendars that are popular with children and adults. Featuring a mosaic of the Nativity of St. Margaret’s Church in Washington, D.C., behind each numbered “window” is a photograph of one of the figures from the 16th annual crèche exhibit at Washington National Cathedral.

Accompanying the photographs from the exhibition are links to a daily giving opportunity, a daily meditation and the liturgy of the hours. The calendar will be available online beginning December 1.

The diocese is also featuring an interactive discussion of the spirituality of Charles Dickens’ beloved story: A Christmas Carol. The discussion will be moderated by Linda Freeman, a General Convention deputy who teaches Victorian literature at the University of Maryland, College Park. The site also feature interactive Advent activities for children.

Last year the diocesan Advent calendar received an average of 113,000 visits per day.

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