Advent Resources

Nov 14

Hey,

We started getting some Christmas decorations out at our house and one of our kids asked me if they had holidays during Jesus' time. What a great question.

God's people had several feasts throughout the year where they would remember and re-enact God's work in their story.

The Church Calendar helps us do that today, and it begins with the season of Advent.

Advent comes from a Latin word that means "coming" or "arrival."

Each year, for the 4 Sundays before Christmas Day, we let this season teach us to long for the coming of Jesus.

We look back at his first coming.

We look ahead to his second coming.

We look around at his present coming.

Too often, we can take for granted that Jesus has come and we forget the ache of our brothers and sisters in the Old Testament who longed for the Messiah.

There's a desperation that is often missing from our spirituality.

Advent is the season that immerses us in the waiting, the longing, for Jesus to come and makes things right again.

There's a theme in Scripture of God promising, and bringing, salvation through these unlikely, even miraculous, births.

So this Advent, I'll be preaching through The Mothers of Christmas as we look at the stories of Eve, Sarah, Hannah, and Mary.

What do each of these women teach us about longing for the birth of Christ?

This season is a way for us to not just tell the story, but enter into it.

We'll do things together to build anticipation and look forward to the coming of Christ.

On Sundays, we'll be lighting an Advent Wreath during our liturgy. Each week we'll light a candle, and read Scripture, slowly watching the wreath fill with light, looking ahead to the day all the candles will be lit and the light of the world arrives.

Our kids classes will be doing an Advent Wreath too!

We actually will be providing some resources for you to even do them at home with your family!

Here's a link to the wreath we're using: Advent Wreath

You could also build your own! On Sunday, November 24 we'll be passing out some instructions to build your own wreath and how to use it during this season in your home.

Here are some other resources for you and your family this Advent season!

Music

Kids and Family Resources