I can’t believe it’s the first week of Advent already! Weren’t we just celebrating Pentecost last week?! It’s already feeling quite frantic for me, so here are some ideas for us all to keep this season sane.

In a nutshell, the primary way to do so? Intentionally observing Advent. Often in the Church, Advent isn’t thought of as much more than the padding around Christmas. But here are some simple ways to ease into recognising (or re-recognising) the season (and gift) of Advent as a separate festival from Christmas.

  1. Learn the calendar. Advent is the start of the new year of the Christian liturgical calendar, and its purpose is to prepare our hearts for Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus for twelve days, starting on the 25th We celebrate Advent for four Sundays, and each Sunday we focus on a particular gift that Christ brings: hope, peace, love, and joy. Only then are we truly prepared to receive Him.
  2. Slowly decorate. Put your tree up soon, but perhaps very slowly add decorations to it and the rest of your house, every week, in anticipation of Christmas. Spreading it out through December means enjoying the process of decoration, instead of rushing to just have it done.
  3. Listen to anticipatory music. Unlike my beloved husband, I’m a sucker for Christmas carols. But I’m going to try this year to focus and listen intentionally to songs that help my heart anticipate, not just celebrate. Listen to songs like O Come O Come Emmanuel, Come Thou Fount, or Ave Maria – and then on Christmas Eve, let the classics ring out loud and joyfully!
  4. Have your own Advent wreath. Four purple candles (for each of the weeks, representing Hope, Peace, Love and Joy), one white candle (for Christmas); light the week’s candle each night, at dinner.
  5. Have your own Advent calendar. This isn’t just for kids! Instead of a chocolate per day, have little activities you can do in preparation for Christmas, like watching a Christmas movie, or baking gingerbread, or doing a Christmas lights drive-around… or, you know, just stick with chocolate.
  6. Use our prepared Advent devotional. Each week, there is a prayer, reading, reflection questions, prayer points, and a song to listen to – a great way to slow down and connect with God. These are available at the church foyer.
  7. Come to church. The Ministry Team will do our best to create a “Respite From The Rush” space for you all, each week, as we slowly anticipate the coming of the Christ Child.