Advent is a season we set apart to “make ready” our hearts for the coming of Jesus. At Christmas, he came as a baby in Bethlehem. In the future, he will come as a King in glory. Our corporate worship helps us to reflect on these truths through specially selected Scripture readings and prayers. But here are some themes to consider if you’d like to observe Advent at home:
1. Take inventory (Prayer)
Often we are tempted to downplay—or ignore altogether—the darkness around and within us. Advent challenges us to lean against this tendency and take inventory of the ways we need healing. Where do you need Jesus’ light to shine in your life right now? In what ways do you long to see our world healed? Reflect on these questions individually or as a family.
2. Make room (Fasting)
During this time of year, we tend to get very very busy. We cram our calendars with activities, we fill our senses with Christmas music and extra treats, we overload our minds with shopping lists and holiday to-do’s. Advent invites us to resist this fullness in subtle ways, to make room to hear from and look for Jesus in your life. It can look like paring back your decorations at home until closer to Christmas, turning off your TV/phone earlier each evening, or practicing a few moments of silence each day. This empty space makes room for a fuller reception of God in our lives.
3. Move toward the margins (Almsgiving)
When Jesus first arrived on earth, he belonged to a poor family that nobody thought was worth noticing. When he returns, he promises to ask us, “When I was hungry, did you feed me? When I was naked, did you clothe me?” (Matt. 25:36-40). During Advent, we can show devotion to our coming King by recognizing him among “the least of these.” One way to do this is to sponsor a local family from our Angel tree (available at church the next two Sundays), or to support Haywood Pathways which serves those experiencing homelessness.
Lastly: There is no “perfect” way to observe Advent. The goal of this season isn’t to get it right, but to have permission to recognize the many ways we’ve gotten it wrong. The liturgical year begins with Advent to remind us: our story starts not with our achievement or earning, but with our need. The Light of the World is and always has been a pure gift.
Hannah+