Marking the Season of Advent
By Ryan Dawson
I didn’t grow up with the Advent tradition. It wasn’t until I came to university that I was introduced to the beauty of marking the season of Advent, which means “arrival”, with the tradition of a wreath, candles, and liturgical readings. Celebrating Advent allows us to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus, and to remember the first coming of Christ, as we long for His second coming. As we focus on Jesus as the fulfillment of all hope, peace, joy, and love, we are reminded of God’s greatest gift – the gift of Christ, the Son of God born to us.
If you are interested in experiencing the beauty of liturgical readings, I encourage you to check out one of my favorite devotional books - Every Moment Holy, by Douglas McKelvey. Every Moment Holy is also offering an Advent journal that you can subscribe to that will guide you through the Christmas season. The journal begins with “A Liturgy to Mark the Start of the Christmas Season” (reading below), and you can subscribe by clicking on the link below the reading.
These readings can be enjoyed alone or in community and I believe they will help you experience God’s presence in a greater way this Christmas. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.
Blessings, Ryan
A Liturgy to Mark the Start of the Christmas Season
LEADER: As we prepare our house for the coming Christmas season, we would also prepare our hearts for the returning Christ.
PEOPLE: You came once for your people, O Lord, and you will come for us again.
Though there was no room at the inn to receive you upon your first arrival,
We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home, Lord Christ.
As we decorate and celebrate, we do so to mark the memory of your redemptive movement into our broken world, O God.
Our glittering ornaments and Christmas trees, Our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts— By these small tokens we affirm that something amazing has happened in time and space— that God, on a particular night, in a particular place, so many years ago, was born to us, an infant King, our Prince of Peace.
Our wreaths and ribbons and colored lights, our giving of gifts, our parties with friends— these have never been ends in themselves.
They are but small ways in which we repeat that sounding joy first proclaimed by angels in the skies near Bethlehem.
In view of such great tidings of love announced to us, and to all people, how can we not be moved to praise and celebration in this Christmas season?
As we decorate our tree, and as we feast and laugh and sing together, a we are rehearsing our coming joy!
We are making ready to receive the one who has already, with open arms, received us!
We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home, Lord Christ.
Now we celebrate your first coming, Immanuel, even as we long for your return. O Prince of Peace, our elder brother, return soon. We miss you so!
Amen.
Find the Every Moment Holy Advent Journal and liturgy writing guide at http://everymomentholy.com/advent or purchase your copy where you buy your books.
I didn’t grow up with the Advent tradition. It wasn’t until I came to university that I was introduced to the beauty of marking the season of Advent, which means “arrival”, with the tradition of a wreath, candles, and liturgical readings. Celebrating Advent allows us to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus, and to remember the first coming of Christ, as we long for His second coming. As we focus on Jesus as the fulfillment of all hope, peace, joy, and love, we are reminded of God’s greatest gift – the gift of Christ, the Son of God born to us.
If you are interested in experiencing the beauty of liturgical readings, I encourage you to check out one of my favorite devotional books - Every Moment Holy, by Douglas McKelvey. Every Moment Holy is also offering an Advent journal that you can subscribe to that will guide you through the Christmas season. The journal begins with “A Liturgy to Mark the Start of the Christmas Season” (reading below), and you can subscribe by clicking on the link below the reading.
These readings can be enjoyed alone or in community and I believe they will help you experience God’s presence in a greater way this Christmas. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.
Blessings, Ryan
A Liturgy to Mark the Start of the Christmas Season
LEADER: As we prepare our house for the coming Christmas season, we would also prepare our hearts for the returning Christ.
PEOPLE: You came once for your people, O Lord, and you will come for us again.
Though there was no room at the inn to receive you upon your first arrival,
We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home, Lord Christ.
As we decorate and celebrate, we do so to mark the memory of your redemptive movement into our broken world, O God.
Our glittering ornaments and Christmas trees, Our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts— By these small tokens we affirm that something amazing has happened in time and space— that God, on a particular night, in a particular place, so many years ago, was born to us, an infant King, our Prince of Peace.
Our wreaths and ribbons and colored lights, our giving of gifts, our parties with friends— these have never been ends in themselves.
They are but small ways in which we repeat that sounding joy first proclaimed by angels in the skies near Bethlehem.
In view of such great tidings of love announced to us, and to all people, how can we not be moved to praise and celebration in this Christmas season?
As we decorate our tree, and as we feast and laugh and sing together, a we are rehearsing our coming joy!
We are making ready to receive the one who has already, with open arms, received us!
We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home, Lord Christ.
Now we celebrate your first coming, Immanuel, even as we long for your return. O Prince of Peace, our elder brother, return soon. We miss you so!
Amen.
Find the Every Moment Holy Advent Journal and liturgy writing guide at http://everymomentholy.com/advent or purchase your copy where you buy your books.