Online Advent calendars have become extremely popular since the Episcopal Diocese of Washington produced its first one six years ago. This year, our calendar, (visible at edow.org/advent) is a bit of puzzle, literally. The image of the Nativity is a brilliantly-colored children’s puzzle produced by a Sri Lankan cooperative working with SERRV International.
SERRV sends volunteer designers to work with native craftspeople and local arts and crafts cooperatives. Together, they create pieces that are marketed internationally. Thus, native arts traditions are maintained and the local community is supported.
Visitors to the calendar can open windows revealing figures from the Washington National Cathedral’s Annual crèche exhibit and read the daily meditations on Episcopal Café . This year’s diocesan Advent campaign supports children whose mothers and grandmothers work in church-sponsored sewing ministries located in Ezulwini and Lobamba, Swaziland.
There is an array of other good calendars out there, including one from Trinity, Wall Street, one from the Church of England