Welcoming Advent
Basking in the glow of Thanksgiving, the fridge is stuffed with leftovers. Christmas decorations beckon to be freed from their red crates and the tree carried up to the living room. There are lists to be made and holiday festivities just ahead.
Hold onto your hats! We’ve officially entered the Christmas Season!
Suiting up in snow pants, gloves, and my favorite hat with LED light shining on the front, I called the dog to go for a moonlit walk. Down the road, my thoughts began tumbling about Advent. Amidst all the holiday hustle, many times we don’t think much about this sacred season that begins four Sundays before Christmas leading up to our Savior’s birth.
No better time to delight in all the things God is … Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and my favorite, Emmanuel.
Though I didn’t appreciate it then, I’m grateful for growing up in a liturgical church with special Christmas traditions and services. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without the Advent wreath on the coffee table and a Christmas devotional read in the candlelight each night.
Gazing at the stars, I used the still, solitary time to pray, asking the Lord,
“How would you have me draw closer to you this Christmas season?”
An intriguing advent devotional a friend had mentioned earlier that day floated through my mind. Pulling out my phone I googled as quickly as my bare, freezing fingers could type. Reading the description, it wasn’t what I thought. It fell flat.
I’m interested in the heroes of the faith, maybe there’s a book out there that has daily readings featuring one of them each day. Momentary excitement and then it fell flat. It wasn’t quite what I was looking for either.
Hmmm. For the past year, I had been studying the life and faith of Mister Rogers and found it incredibly inspiring. I wondered how Mister Rogers would celebrate the Advent season?
He would celebrate it in his neighborhood.
I imagined him loving the people in his hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania; attending the special Christmas services in his church and community. I wondered if Latrobe had a Community Christmas Tree Lighting that he attended with his family. I could almost see him bundling up in his wool coat, scarf, mittens, and earmuffs, drinking hot cocoa and “oohing” and “ahhing” with his Latrobe neighbors in the magical moment when the tree lights came on for the first time.
“That’s it!!!” I was to celebrate, “Advent in My Neighborhood”
Instead of looking for outside resources to pull in, I could celebrate the Season with what was right in front of me.
Hadn’t I heard about a “Ladies Christmas Tea” at our church in last week’s announcements?
Driving down the main street of the little country town, we call home, hadn’t I seen a “Christmas Tree Lighting” banner (with a square almost like an eye patch covering last year’s date and a hand-drawn number for this year’s) as we passed through town?
At church the next morning, I spotted one of our pastors. Noticing the microphone headset running along his cheek I asked, “Oh, are you preaching this morning?”
“Yes,” he said, “I am. I get to preach on one of my favorite passages, John 1:1 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.’
I responded, “Oh, is that a Christmas message?”
“Yes, actually we’re starting an Advent series this week!”
Another piece in my puzzle! I couldn’t get into the service fast enough. I even snagged my foot on the carpet and stumbled. It’s hard to keep your cool when you see God’s path blazing in front of you. I started taking notes during the message. Then I thought, “Hey, you should record this, and then during the week when you want to do an Advent devotional, listen to the recording.”
Within just a few hours everything had fallen into place. I felt excitement, joy, and adventure reveling in God’s living Advent plan, just for ME!
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As the Christmas season starts, could we begin with each of us asking God,
“Lord, how would you have me grow closer to you this Christmas season?”
Then watch for what God brings,
- Is there a book or bible study about Jesus’ birth that you’re excited about?
- A sermon series that you feel is speaking right to your heart?
- Special Christmas events in your community, like a live nativity, a Christmas tea, or caroling?
- Volunteer opportunities where you could let Christ’s love flow through you?
With all the shopping, decorating, and festivities that are a part of this wonderful season, let us not miss the greatest gift of all. That God desires an unhindered relationship with us so much that he sent his son Jesus, to break down the barrier erected through sin. He longs for us to know him as intimately as Adam and Eve when he walked with them in the garden.
Thank you, Lord, for Advent, giving us four glorious weeks to ponder and celebrate the gift of Christ. And on Christmas morning, may we find ourselves more in love with you.