In this study we are building the material as we go. 

The first hour of our 90 minute session will be spent in Bible study and reflection. The final 30minutes will be spent playing with ditial art on Padlet (AI art generator). Feel free to be there for both parts or just one. Come and go as you need!

We will create reflections together as we meet to engage with these gospel passages:

1. Matthew 1:18-25: This passage describes Joseph's initial reaction to Mary's pregnancy and the angel's message to him in a dream, assuring him that the child is conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph follows the angel's guidance and takes Mary as his wife.

2. Luke 2:1-7: Joseph travels with Mary to Bethlehem for the census, where Jesus is born.

3. Matthew 2:13-23: Joseph is instructed by an angel in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape King Herod's massacre of the infants. After Herod's death, Joseph is directed to return to Israel, settling in Nazareth.

4. Luke 2:22-24: Joseph and Mary present Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem, following Jewish law.

5. Luke 2:41-52: Joseph and Mary search for Jesus when he stays behind in the Temple in Jerusalem at the age of twelve.

These passages provide insight into Joseph's role as a faithful and obedient guardian of Jesus and a supportive husband to Mary.

Our members are invited to curate resources which we will pool into this study material and then offer to the wider Church for future advent studies:

• Artworks created through the Digital Faith Artists | Ministries
• Reading the passages and making them into videos for the Reader Project
• Recommending books, articles, blogs, music, podcasts and videos that explore Joseph's role
• Personal reflections
• Prayers 

The curated resources feature at the bottom of this page > scroll down!

If there's time we may also look at the genealogy of Jesus which is listed in two places in the New Testament:

1. Matthew 1:1-17: This genealogy traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph, starting from Abraham and moving forward to Jesus. It is structured to highlight three sets of fourteen generations.

2. Luke 3:23-38: This genealogy traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph as well, but it starts with Jesus and goes backward all the way to Adam. This lineage is different from Matthew's and emphasizes Jesus' connection to all of humanity.

These genealogies serve to establish Jesus' heritage and fulfill the prophecies related to the Messiah's lineage. It is amazing that the Messiah's credentials can be established, not through biological blood ties, but through adoptive parentage.

A Prayer:

Loving God, we give thanks for the life of Joseph.

For his faithfulness to Mary, his attentive care for her and for Jesus.

We celebrate Joseph's safeguarding and caretaking role.

By being a mentor that shaped Jesus into who he was destined to be, giving him a trade and education, Joseph shows us true guardianship.

We praise you for foster fathers everywhere who accept children into their hearts and share a safe home with them.

We pray for all who don't have a father in their lives, or whose fathers injure them. 

May Joseph's example inspire people everywhere to listen for your voice and to live their faith in practical ways.

For the unsung heros of family life and faith, thank you.

Amen.