One of the most prominent symbols of Advent is the Advent wreath, typically adorned with four candles, one of which is lit each Sunday of the season. These candles represent the four weeks of Advent, with a fifth candle, the Christ candle, at the center, often lit on Christmas Day.
Each candle holds a unique significance, such as hope, peace, joy, and love, and the lighting of these candles helps focus on these themes throughout the season. The Advent wreath serves as a visual and symbolic reminder of the growing light in the world as Christmas approaches.
Advent is also a time for personal and spiritual preparation. It encourages believers to engage in prayer, reflection, and acts of kindness. It's an opportunity for individuals to deepen their faith and reconnect with the message of hope, love, and salvation that Jesus brings.
Many churches and families incorporate Advent calendars and devotional readings to guide their daily reflections and prayers, fostering a sense of spiritual growth and renewal.
Advent fosters a sense of anticipation and excitement that goes beyond the commercial aspects of Christmas. It encourages a focus on the spiritual and meaningful aspects of the holiday season.
The season of Advent is a time to remember the true reason for the Christmas celebration – the birth of Jesus – and to approach it with a sense of reverence, wonder, and gratitude for the hope and love that this event brings into the world.
What Is Advent?
The word "Advent" is derived from the Latin word "adventus," which means "coming" or "arrival." In the Christian context, Advent refers to the liturgical season that occurs in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It is a period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which is believed to be the coming of the Messiah into the world.
During Advent, Christians reflect on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, symbolized by the lighting of candles on an Advent wreath. These candles represent the four weeks of Advent, with each week focusing on one of these themes. The season is a time for prayer, introspection, and spiritual preparation, helping believers to center themselves on the significance of Christ's birth.
Advent typically begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and lasts until Christmas Eve. It serves as a reminder of the anticipation and hope that surrounded the birth of Jesus, as well as the anticipation of his eventual return, as many Christians believe that Advent is not only a time to commemorate the historical birth of Christ, but also to prepare for his second coming in the future.
Why Should Every Christian Family Do Advent Devotions Together?
Having an Advent family devotion is important for several reasons:
1) Spiritual Preparation: Advent is a time of spiritual preparation and anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Engaging in family devotions helps your family focus on the true meaning of Christmas, deepening your faith and allowing you to prepare your hearts for this significant event.
2) Quality Family Time: Advent family devotions provide an opportunity for quality family time. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, setting aside time for reflection and togetherness helps strengthen family bonds.
3) Teaching Values: These devotions help instill important values in your children, such as hope, peace, joy, and love. Through discussions and activities, children can learn about the significance of these values and how to live them out in their lives.
4) Countering Commercialism: The Advent season can sometimes be overshadowed by commercialism. By engaging in Advent devotions, you counter the materialistic aspects of the holiday and focus on the spiritual and meaningful elements of Christmas.
5) Building Traditions: Creating Advent traditions within your family can be a powerful way to pass down your faith and values from generation to generation. These traditions can become a source of comfort and continuity in your family's life.
6) Connecting with the Church Calendar: Advent follows the Christian liturgical calendar, and by participating in family devotions, you align your family with the broader Christian community's observance of this season.
7) Fostering Gratitude: Advent devotions often include discussions on gratitude for the blessings in your life. This can help your family develop a sense of thankfulness and appreciation for what you have.
8) Cultivating Spiritual Awareness: Engaging in Advent devotionals encourages your family to be more spiritually aware. It prompts you to consider how your faith impacts your daily life and the way you interact with others.
9) Preparing for Christmas Day: By the time Christmas Day arrives, your family will be spiritually prepared and in the right frame of mind to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This can make the holiday more meaningful and less stressful.
10) Connecting Faith to Daily Life: Advent family devotions bridge the gap between faith and daily life. It's not just about church attendance, but about integrating your faith into your family's everyday experiences.
In conclusion, an Advent family devotion is a meaningful and intentional way to celebrate the Advent season and Christmas. It allows your family to connect on a spiritual level, teaches valuable lessons, and creates lasting traditions that can enrich your family's life during the holiday season and beyond.
Advent Family Devotional Guide
Creating a meaningful Advent family devotional guide is a wonderful way to center your family's holiday celebrations around the true significance of Christmas. Below is a guide with readings, reflections, and activities for each day of Advent. This guide is designed to help your family grow closer, deepen your faith, and prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Week 1: The Candle Of Hope
- Day 1: Lighting the First Candle. Gather around the Advent wreath and light the first candle, representing hope. Read Isaiah 9:2 and discuss what hope means to each family member.
- Day 2: The Promise of Hope. Read Jeremiah 29:11 and talk about God's plans for our lives. How does this promise of hope give us confidence?
- Day 3: Family Prayer Night. Pray as a family, sharing your hopes and concerns with one another. Encourage children to express their hopes and dreams for the future.
- Day 4: Acts of Kindness. Engage in acts of kindness together. Discuss how these actions can be a source of hope for others. Share stories of people who inspire hope in the world.
Week 2: The Candle Of Peace
- Day 5: Lighting the Second Candle. Light the second candle, representing peace. Read Isaiah 9:6 and discuss the Prince of Peace, Jesus.
- Day 6: Finding Inner Peace. Read Philippians 4:6-7. Discuss ways to find inner peace amidst life's challenges. Share personal experiences of finding peace.
- Day 7: Family Movie Night. Watch a family-friendly movie centered around the theme of peace. Afterward, discuss how peace was illustrated in the film.
- Day 8: Peaceful Nature Walk. Take a nature walk, enjoying God's creation. Reflect on the peace that can be found in the beauty of the natural world.
Week 3: The Candle Of Joy
- Day 9: Lighting the Third Candle. Light the third candle, representing joy. Read Luke 2:10-11 and discuss the joy that the angels proclaimed at Jesus' birth.
- Day 10: Joyful Acts of Service. Engage in acts of service as a family. Discuss how serving others brings joy and fulfillment. Share stories of moments when you felt joyful through service.
- Day 11: Family Recipe Night. Cook a special meal or dessert together. Discuss the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones and how this relates to Jesus' ministry.
- Day 12: Family Game Night. Play board games or engage in family activities. Talk about the joy of spending quality time with one another.
Week 4: The Candle Of Love
- Day 13: Lighting the Fourth Candle. Light the fourth candle, representing love. Read John 3:16 and discuss God's love for the world through Jesus.
- Day 14: Family Story Night. Share stories from the Bible that highlight the theme of love. Consider stories like the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, or Jesus' birth.
- Day 15: Homemade Advent Decorations. Create homemade decorations for your home, such as ornaments or a nativity scene, to remind your family of the love shared during Advent.
- Day 16: Forgiveness and Love. Read Matthew 18:21-22 and discuss the importance of forgiveness in loving relationships. Encourage family members to apologize and forgive one another.
Christmas Eve: The Christ Candle
- Day 17: Lighting the Christ Candle. On Christmas Eve, light the center Christ candle. Read Luke 2:1-20, recounting the story of Jesus' birth. Reflect on the significance of Jesus' arrival in the world.
- Day 18: Christmas Eve Service. Attend a Christmas Eve service as a family. Discuss the message of love and hope that Jesus' birth brings to the world.
- Day 19: Blessing and Prayer. Gather as a family for a special blessing and prayer. Thank God for the gift of Jesus and the love shared within your family.
- Day 20: Gift of Love. Exchange gifts as a family, focusing on the love and thoughtfulness behind the presents. Share your love and appreciation for one another.
This Advent family devotion guide is designed to be flexible, allowing you to adjust the readings and activities to suit your family's needs. The key is to come together, reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and share love, joy, peace, and hope with one another during this special season.
St. Paul Lutheran School Northville
We at St. Paul Lutheran School Northville would love to partner with you in the education of your child and help provide resources for keeping Christ in the Advent season.
We emphasize a holistic approach to education. By integrating faith-based teachings with academic subjects, we encourage students to engage with different viewpoints and ideas while fostering an environment that values intellectual curiosity.
Our teachers at St. Paul Lutheran School Northville are dedicated to developing the whole student to become an independent learner, and we believe each student is a Child of God gifted with the potential to achieve success.
We are committed to helping children develop their full potential as God's creation as we:
- TEACH children to serve God and others.
- EQUIP children with knowledge and skills for living.
- ACKNOWLEDGE each child's uniqueness.
- CREATE an active, Christ-centered learning environment.
- HONOR GOD through active church participation.
For more information on how you and your family can become a part of the St. Paul Lutheran School Northville family, schedule a tour here!