A great way to “redeem” the holiday season and help to keep the celebration focused on Jesus is an Advent celebration. Many Christian families and churches use the four weeks leading up to Christmas as a time to intentionally focus on the “coming” of the promised Messiah, Jesus the Christ. In fact the word Advent means “coming” and it refers to the first coming to Earth of Jesus.
There are many different ways to celebrate the Advent season. Traditionally Advent begins on the Sunday following Thanksgiving and continues up until Christmas Day and sometimes several days afterwards. Churches often celebrate by lighting candles on each Sunday with each candle representing a different part of the Christmas story. The story is observed and portrayed in four basic stages: Prophecy, Announcement to Shepherds, The Birth, The Coming of the Magi. The exact portrayal by each candle may differ in focus from church to church.
Families also have adapted this kind of reflection for their own Advent celebrations. There are resources (such as Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration)and websites (www.familieswithpurpose.com/adventkits.html) that can guide you on how to make an Advent wreath with candles to celebrate the coming of Christ in an interactive way. One way you can celebrate the first “advent” of Jesus is to read a passage of the Bible with your family each day of Advent.
If you desire to do this with your family we will be providing suggested scripture readings each week of the Advent season for you to use. Each week on our pastor’s blog we will have a new focus for the week, a devotion related to that theme, carols to sing/learn, and passages to read. There will be 6 or 7 passages provided each week in case you want a reading for most days, but don’t feel bad if you can’t do it everyday. The content will follow closely that used in the book referred to above with a few minor differences. It is our goal this Christmas season to help all of us have a more meaning-filled Christmas and to “worship fully.”