Advent means ‘Coming’. At Advent we celebrate two ‘comings’ of Jesus: his birth and his promised return. We can also daily welcome his coming into our lives.
Advent gives us an opportunity to daily slow down in the lead up to Christmas. It is a way we can prepare our hearts for celebrating the wonder of the incarnation – God himself becoming one of us. It helps to turn our hearts away from materialism and busyness, and back to Jesus himself.
Here is a simple plan for how you can celebrate Advent:
Choose a daily time
Choose a time that will work on a daily basis for everyone in your household. It could be first thing in the morning, right before dinner, or after dinner. You only need 10 minutes each day.
2. Light a candle (or candles)
Simple option: have a single candle that you light each day while taking a few minutes to pause and do the activities below.
Full option: set up an advent wreath with 5 candles. Start on the 1st Sunday of advent with lighting the 1st candle each day, then progressively add a 2nd candle on the 2nd Sunday, 3rd candle on the 3rd Sunday, 4th candle on the 4th Sunday. These candles represent Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. On Christmas Day add a 5th candle which is called the Christ candle.
You can also spend some time each week reflecting on the meaning of each of these candles.
3. Share a treat together
Opening something each day is fun, as all the Advent calendars of chocolate, tea or lego demonstrate! You can number envelopes 1-25, and put a treat and a verse or name of Jesus into each one (see the next step) into each, and then open one each day. Decorate the envelopes (or boxes/jar) if you like. Or you can buy an advent calendar that has a pocket for each day.
Simple option: just have a jar of chocolates that you dip into each day!
4. Read and reflect
Choose an option that will be of most benefit to the people in your household (or do them all!):
Daily readings of the Christmas story: there’s a plan of readings on the next page that takes you through the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus, and the New Testament stories of his birth. This is a good option for families. You can print or write them out and put them in your advent calendar.
Names of Jesus: read a verse about a different name of Jesus each day, and reflect of what that name means for our world and for you. Again, you can put these in an advent calendar to discover each day.
Advent devotional: buy a book that has daily advent readings (or find one online).
5. Remember others
Think of an act of kindness that you could do for someone – anything from sending a Christmas card, to giving a gift to a Christmas appeal, helping a neighbour or baking cookies to give away.
6. Pray
Pray together, or journal in response to what you have read.
Daily readings of the Christmas story for Advent
- Isaiah 9:1-2
- Isaiah 9:6-7
- John 1:1-5
- John 1:9-14
- John 1:18
- Luke 1:5-10
- Luke 1:11-17
- Luke 1:18-25
- Luke 1:26-33
- Luke 1:34-38
- Luke 1:39-45
- Luke 1:46-56
- Luke 1:57-66
- Luke 1:67-80
- Isaiah 7:14
- Matthew 1:18-23
- Matthew 1:24-25
- Micah 5:2, 4
- Luke 2:1-7
- Luke 2:8-14
- Luke 2:15-21
- Matthew 2:1-6
- Matthew 2:7-12
- Matthew 2:13-18
- Matthew 2:19-23
Names of Jesus to reflect on through Advent:
- The Word – John 1:1
- The Light of the World – John 8:12
- Rabbi/Teacher – John 1:38
- The Lamb – Revelation 12:11
- Deliverer – Romans 11:26
- Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
- Immanuel – Matthew 1:23
- The Son of God – John 1:34
- The Righteous Judge – 2 Timothy 4:8
- Author of Salvation – Hebrews 5:9
- Man of Sorrows – Isaiah 53:3
- Founder and Perfecter of our faith – Hebrews 12:2
- The Creator of all – Colossians 1:16
- Good Shepherd – John 10:11
- King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Revelation 19:16
- Cornerstone – Isaiah 28:16
- Messiah – John 4:25
- Alpha and Omega – Revelation 1:8
- Sacrifice – Ephesians 5:2
- High Priest – Hebrews 4:14-16
- The Vine – John 15:5
- The Christ – Mark 8:29
- Savior – 1 John 4:14
- Wonderful Counsellor – Isaiah 9:6
- Jesus – Matthew 1:21