Let’s Observe Advent Together This Year

Sunday, December 1 begins the Advent season, the four Sundays leading up to the celebration of Christmas.  During Advent, the Church has traditionally used scriptures, readings, and hymns to focus on Christ’s coming to earth, looking back at Christ’s first arrival in human flesh, and anticipating His return.

In the busyness of the Christmas season, observing Advent helps us to remember the true meaning of the season and meditate on who Christ is and what He has done. Let’s observe Advent together this season as a church family. Each Sunday evening during December, gather with your family to reflect on the Christ of Christmas. Follow this guide and ask Christ to enrich your appreciation for His incarnation and begin a family tradition.

Some History

The term Advent is taken from the Latin word adventus, which means “arrival” or “coming,” and was from the translation of the Greek Parousia—a word used for both the coming of Christ in human flesh and his Second Coming. The first two weeks of the season focus on the future return of Christ at the Second Coming, while the last two weeks focus on the coming celebration of Christmas. As Ryan Reeves notes, the first written evidence of Advent is found in modern Spain and Europe, and the earliest official mention of Advent practices comes as the Council of Sargossa (AD 380). Since the date of Christmas has been set on December 25, the first day of Advent changes slightly from year to year.

Advent Poem

This Advent, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Fill me with Your presence from the very start.
As I prepare for the holidays and gifts to be given,
Remind me of the gift You gave when You sent Your Son from Heaven.
The first Christmas gift, it was the greatest gift ever.
You came as a baby born in a manger.
Wrapped like the gifts I find under my tree,
Waiting to be opened, to reveal Your love to me.
Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus' birth,
When He left the riches of Heaven and wrapped Himself in rags of earth.
Immanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night.
And angels announced, "Into your darkness, God brings His Light."
"Do not be afraid," they said, to shepherds in the field.
Speak to my heart today, Lord, and help me to yield.
Make me like those shepherd boys, obedient to Your call.
Setting distractions and worries aside, to You I surrender them all.
Surround me with Your presence, Lord, I long to hear Your voice.
Clear my mind of countless concerns and all the holiday noise.
Slow me down this Christmas, let me not be in a rush.
In the midst of parties and planning, I want to feel Your hush.
This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart.
Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part.
Dwell within and around me, as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Lord. It's in Your wonderful Name I pray.

—Renee Swope, “The Manger of My Heart” from Proverbs 31 Ministries

First Sunday of Advent

Theme: Expectancy

Reading: Micah 5:2-5, Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; Isaiah 7:14

Conversation Starters: Share about a time when you’ve had to wait expectantly for something. What was it like to feel in your heart that you knew something big was going to happen and yet to also know that you needed to wait for it? How does waiting for God to provide the answers allow us to trust him more?

Prayer: Jesus, we start this Advent season waiting for You. Like the Israelites who wearily longed—hoping against hope—that You would bring Your promised Messiah, we desperately wait for You to fill our hearts with Your glorious presence this Advent season. We also wait with confidence for the day You will return.  You will right all wrongs and bring about justice and peace. Please help us to choose to boldly trust that Your promises will prove true.

 Suggested Song:  Sing to the King, listen on the RBC Advent Playlist

Second Sunday of Advent

Theme: Hope

Reading: Luke 1:26-38, 46-55

Conversation Starters: Discuss this together (there’s no right or wrong answer): What do you think Mary was more surprised by—the appearance of the angel, or the angel’s message itself? Would you want an angel to give you a message about something that was to happen in your life? Share a time when God miraculously “showed up” in your life to offer you either physical or emotional provision in a way that you never could have provided.

Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes the Christmas story has become so familiar that it’s easy to lose sight of how spectacular and astonishing this event was. After years of waiting, your promised Messiah was to be born in the most unlikely of places to the most unlikely of people in the most unlikely of ways. Only You can plan such awe-inspiring works! You are perfect in your ways, and Your plans are magnificent! May we trust You with every aspect of our lives, remembering that Mary’s story assures us that You are able to show up and do the miraculous. Nothing, nothing is impossible for You, Lord!

Suggested Song:  Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery, listen on the RBC Advent Playlist

Third Sunday of Advent

Theme: Joy

 Reading: Luke 2:8-20; Luke 2:25-32

Conversation Starters:  Even if you’re going through something difficult in your life right now, what can you choose to celebrate with joy today as you remember that, like Simeon, God will fulfill His promises for you?

Prayer: Dear Lord, it’s hard to imagine what it would have been like to see the armies of heaven lighting up the shepherds’ fields as they praised Your name! And yet, because You have given us Your salvation, we can confidently know that one day we will witness the armies of heaven riding behind You as the glorious, exalted King of all Kings in Your second coming (Revelation 19:11-16). We praise You today that You chose to personally enter our world as the promised Messiah, humbling Yourself to become human so that You could truly live among Your people. With Your birth, we are made whole! You offer salvation to all that call out to You, and that makes our hearts sing with joy!

Suggested Song:  What Joy, listen on the RBC Advent Playlist

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Theme: Peace

 Reading: Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27; Psalm 23:1-2

Conversation Starters: Describe the circumstances that Mary and Joseph found themselves in after Jesus’ birth. From a worldly perspective, do You think they had a reason for peace? How do You think the miracles surrounding Jesus’ birth (prophecies fulfilled, angels’ appearance, etc.) bolstered the faith of the young Mary and Joseph for their future life as the earthly parents of the Messiah?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You were born into a sinful, restless world that was desperate for peace. Our world today may not look like ancient Bethlehem, but it is an equally broken place filled with anxious hearts in need of  purpose and lasting hope. We are so thankful that You demonstrate over and over that your heart’s desire is that everyone would know You, and You want to give authentic joy, peace and love to all that call on Your great name. This Advent season, we pray that our world see Your son’s birth as an olive branch of peace. No matter what their circumstances, we pray that everyone would come to know incredible peace that cannot be shaken or taken away. Thank You for being the path to peace.

Suggested Song: In Christ Alone, listen on the RBC Advent Playlist

Christmas Eve

Theme:  Adoration

Reading: John 1:14; Matthew 2:1-12 

Conversation Starters:  Magi, wise men from the east, saw the star announcing the birth of Jesus.  What sacrifices did they make in order to find Jesus?  They traveled a long distance, they brought costly gifts, they searched carefully for Jesus.  When they found Him, what was their response?  They were overjoyed and worshipped him. 

Prayer:  Jesus, we are attracted to so many things.  We love to get presents, we enjoy sports teams and celebrities, musicians and athletes. We like new clothes and cars. Help us this Christmas to be more like the wise men - to seek you, to be overjoyed when we see You and to worship and adore You. Help us to value you more than anything else in the world. Thank you coming to be born as a baby on the earth, for living a sinless life, showing us the love of the Father, giving us an example to follow, and for choosing to be our Savior, our only hope of reconciliation and peace with God.

Suggested Song:  Away in a Manger, Silent Night, listen on the RBC Advent Playlist

Additional Advent Ideas for Your Family:

  •  As Christmas cards arrive, save them with the Advent wreath and use your Advent prayer time to pray for the senders.

  • Do an Advent service project for the needy. Some opportunities available at RBC: 

    • join with the Britt Team in December 17 to sing Christmas carols and share cookies with the boys.

    • Donate a T-shirt as a Christmas gift to one of the Britt boys.  Join Pastor Tim on Christmas Day when he delivers the gifts.

    • Donate a gift for a child in emergency foster care during Christmas. 

    • Donate to Mission Haiti.

  • Use your Nativity set with as many animals as possible to enact the story (great for younger kids!). Some families set up the manger scene and each day move the people and animals in a little closer.

 

Adapted from Focus on the Family.