OBSERVING ADVENT AT HOME
“The lack of mystery in our modern life is our downfall and our poverty....We retain the child in us to the extent that we honor the mystery. Therefore, children have open, wide-awake eyes, because they know that they are surrounded by the mystery. They are not yet finished with this world; they still don’t know how to struggle along and avoid the mystery, as we do. “
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas
Embracing Advent
Observing Advent --that is, holding back from the celebration of Christmas in the midst of holiday fever -- is so countercultural these days as to practically be an act of resistance. Like all good spiritual ideas, it’s easy to approach it with an all-or-nothing mentality. A gentler, more practical way to embrace advent is to regard it as an anchor. Create a daily or weekly Advent ritual that works for your household, and return to it throughout this busy, chaotic, festive season to pause and re-center.
Advent Wreath/Candles
Advent wreaths/candle holders are available to purchase online and from religious supply retailers/bookstores or you can find infinite ideas on the internet for making one, but yours can be as simple as an arrangement of tea lights or dinner tapers. Traditionally, we use three blue or purple candles, one pink candle for the third Sunday, and one white candle at the center to symbolize the light of the Christ child during Christmas. But Advent is a wonderful time to practice resisting the seasonal pressure to make everything appear picture-perfect, so feel free to improvise with what you have!
Advent Angels
We are encouraging everyone in our parish to pray for each other as part of your Advent devotion.
Other Advent Resources
A free printable Advent/Christmas activity pack for Families and Children as well as other downloadable Advent resources for adults can be found at https://www.churchpublishing.org/freeresources
Observing Advent --that is, holding back from the celebration of Christmas in the midst of holiday fever -- is so countercultural these days as to practically be an act of resistance. Like all good spiritual ideas, it’s easy to approach it with an all-or-nothing mentality. A gentler, more practical way to embrace advent is to regard it as an anchor. Create a daily or weekly Advent ritual that works for your household, and return to it throughout this busy, chaotic, festive season to pause and re-center.
Advent Wreath/Candles
Advent wreaths/candle holders are available to purchase online and from religious supply retailers/bookstores or you can find infinite ideas on the internet for making one, but yours can be as simple as an arrangement of tea lights or dinner tapers. Traditionally, we use three blue or purple candles, one pink candle for the third Sunday, and one white candle at the center to symbolize the light of the Christ child during Christmas. But Advent is a wonderful time to practice resisting the seasonal pressure to make everything appear picture-perfect, so feel free to improvise with what you have!
Advent Angels
We are encouraging everyone in our parish to pray for each other as part of your Advent devotion.
Other Advent Resources
A free printable Advent/Christmas activity pack for Families and Children as well as other downloadable Advent resources for adults can be found at https://www.churchpublishing.org/freeresources
Advent Candle Liturgy
By Rachel G. Hackenberg
rachelhackenberg.com
Advent 1 (November 29): Call to Worship on Isaiah 2:1-5
ONE: One day we will arrive. One day our hearts will catch sight of the mountain of the LORD.
ALL: LORD, we want to go there! O God, we long to be in your presence and walk in your ways.
ONE: Let’s go! All together, let’s make that journey to the mountain of God.
ALL: Sisters and brothers, friends and strangers, let us travel together. Surely we will get there.
ONE: Let the dream of that holy mountain give you courage and strength as we go.
ALL: What a vision: weapons of war turned into tools of harvest, and lessons of peace taught to all people.
ONE: Let us journey together in the light of the LORD!
[first Advent candle is lit]
Advent 2 (December 6): Call to Worship on Isaiah 11:1-10
ONE: Friends, I dreamt that a new shoot was growing from the stump we thought was long dead.
ALL: We dreamt too — of cows and bears grazing next to one another in the field.
ONE: In my dream there was a toddler laughing in wonder and without fear at the world around her.
ALL: In our dreams, the wolf and the lamb found shelter together in a barn; the leopard and the goat curled up next to one another in the hay.
ONE: Did you dream too of generosity and compassion clothing all people like a soft robe?
ALL: Yes, and all people recognized the evils of poverty and worked together for restoration.
ONE: Let us not shy away from our dreams but seek God through them.
[first and second Advent candles are lit]
Advent 3 (December 13): Call to Worship on Isaiah 35:1-10
ONE: Be strong! Do not fear!
ALL: The wilderness will become a place of joy. The desert will become a field for harvest.
ONE: Be strong! Do not fear!
ALL: The drought will break with a spring of water. The weeds and wild shrubs will become a highway for all God’s children.
ONE: Do not let your head or your heart or your body hold you back!
ALL: The highway will not be a place of fear but of fellowship. All will sing and dance with joy, and none will be lost.
ONE: God is coming. Do not fear!
[first three Advent candles are lit]
Advent 4 (December 21): Call to Worship on Isaiah 7:10-16
ONE: Come. The days are long, the nights are longer. If you are tired, seek a sign of the LORD God.
ALL: Can a sign make it all better?
ONE: Come. Here are honey and bread for comfort.
ALL: Waiting for God’s fulfillment can be discouraging.
ONE: Come. Here is the promise of Immanuel, God With Us.
ALL: Pay attention to the signs.
ONE: God knows we need a sign. Be prepared and welcome the signs.
[all four Advent candles are lit]
Christmas (December 25): Call to Worship on Isaiah 9:2-7
ONE: A child has been born for us!
ALL: Now we walk in God’s light, because the heavens have opened and joy has come!
ONE: The Prince of Peace has come to us!
ALL: Now the wars cease and the warriors may go home.
ONE: From this time onward, justice is established!
ALL: Now our burdens are eased, now the harvest has ripened, now righteousness is established!
ONE: The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this!
[all Advent candles and the Christmas candles are lit]
rachelhackenberg.com
Advent 1 (November 29): Call to Worship on Isaiah 2:1-5
ONE: One day we will arrive. One day our hearts will catch sight of the mountain of the LORD.
ALL: LORD, we want to go there! O God, we long to be in your presence and walk in your ways.
ONE: Let’s go! All together, let’s make that journey to the mountain of God.
ALL: Sisters and brothers, friends and strangers, let us travel together. Surely we will get there.
ONE: Let the dream of that holy mountain give you courage and strength as we go.
ALL: What a vision: weapons of war turned into tools of harvest, and lessons of peace taught to all people.
ONE: Let us journey together in the light of the LORD!
[first Advent candle is lit]
Advent 2 (December 6): Call to Worship on Isaiah 11:1-10
ONE: Friends, I dreamt that a new shoot was growing from the stump we thought was long dead.
ALL: We dreamt too — of cows and bears grazing next to one another in the field.
ONE: In my dream there was a toddler laughing in wonder and without fear at the world around her.
ALL: In our dreams, the wolf and the lamb found shelter together in a barn; the leopard and the goat curled up next to one another in the hay.
ONE: Did you dream too of generosity and compassion clothing all people like a soft robe?
ALL: Yes, and all people recognized the evils of poverty and worked together for restoration.
ONE: Let us not shy away from our dreams but seek God through them.
[first and second Advent candles are lit]
Advent 3 (December 13): Call to Worship on Isaiah 35:1-10
ONE: Be strong! Do not fear!
ALL: The wilderness will become a place of joy. The desert will become a field for harvest.
ONE: Be strong! Do not fear!
ALL: The drought will break with a spring of water. The weeds and wild shrubs will become a highway for all God’s children.
ONE: Do not let your head or your heart or your body hold you back!
ALL: The highway will not be a place of fear but of fellowship. All will sing and dance with joy, and none will be lost.
ONE: God is coming. Do not fear!
[first three Advent candles are lit]
Advent 4 (December 21): Call to Worship on Isaiah 7:10-16
ONE: Come. The days are long, the nights are longer. If you are tired, seek a sign of the LORD God.
ALL: Can a sign make it all better?
ONE: Come. Here are honey and bread for comfort.
ALL: Waiting for God’s fulfillment can be discouraging.
ONE: Come. Here is the promise of Immanuel, God With Us.
ALL: Pay attention to the signs.
ONE: God knows we need a sign. Be prepared and welcome the signs.
[all four Advent candles are lit]
Christmas (December 25): Call to Worship on Isaiah 9:2-7
ONE: A child has been born for us!
ALL: Now we walk in God’s light, because the heavens have opened and joy has come!
ONE: The Prince of Peace has come to us!
ALL: Now the wars cease and the warriors may go home.
ONE: From this time onward, justice is established!
ALL: Now our burdens are eased, now the harvest has ripened, now righteousness is established!
ONE: The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this!
[all Advent candles and the Christmas candles are lit]