Three weeks and two days
before Christmas and the heated discussion among my four children is not
about which video games they want for Christmas but who's turn it is to
light the candle at family Advent. It's the first week of Advent season,
the observance of the four weeks preceding Christmas, a tradition
started in the Middle Ages. My kids want to make sure they each have a
part in the celebration.
More than any other
activity, Advent can restore Jesus to the center of the Christmas
celebration, because on each Advent day the birth of Jesus is read, sung
and talked about. The whole family can participate and find the
observance meaningful. The props are simple and inexpensive. The
memories and training will last a lifetime. Although the common tenets
of observing Advent are shared by many churches, each family can add its
own flavor. Following is a basic primer on how to start celebrating
Advent this year.
When:
Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, Dec. 1 this year.
Because Christmas falls on different days each year, Advent can last 22
to 28 days.
Prepare your family:
Let your family or household know that this year you are going to start
a new tradition to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Whenever you can with
children, refer to Christmas as Jesus' birthday. Decide which time of
the day will work best for your Advent time.
What
you need:
• An Advent wreath, which can be purchased at most Christian bookstores,
or made of fire-safe materials or a log with holes for candles. Perhaps
it could be a family event to choose or make the Advent wreath.
• Four candles, three purple and one rose, and an additional white
candle for Christmas Eve. A box of four Advent candles can be purchased
at many card stores or Christian bookstores.
• A Bible for readings and, for younger children, a selection of
children's Christmas stories that focus on the birth of Jesus.
• Advent readings.
Optional items:
• An Advent calendar, available where cards are sold, with 24 windows to
open each day in December or a paper chain of 24 red and green links to
mark the number of days until Jesus' birthday.
• Christmas carol books.
Beginning the celebration:
On the first day begin with either a prayer or a Christmas carol. Light
the first purple candle, known as the prophecy candle. The liturgical
color purple is a sign of penance and longing as we wait for the birth
of Jesus. With the lighting, talk about Jesus being the light of the
world. Read the Advent Scripture of the day. Conclude by singing or
praying. Have one child blow out the candle.
Light the same candle
each day of the first week. Follow with the reading, Christmas carols or
other meaningful activities. On the second Sunday light two purple
candles, both of which are relit each night. The second candle is known
as the Bethlehem candle.
The third week light
the two purple candles and then a rose candle, or shepherd candle. Rose
is a sign of joy and hope that He is coming.
Light the last candle,
known as the angel candle, on the fourth Sunday. All four candles are
lit each night that week to symbolize the growing brightness of Jesus'
coming.
Advent activities for Christmas Eve:
Conclude the Advent season by lighting all four candles and placing an
additional white candle in the center in its own holder. Have a birthday
party for Jesus complete with cake, the Happy Birthday song, candles and
presents of nonmaterial gifts such as singing, readings, a play and
prayers that each family member brings to share with others. Consider
doing a nativity play with simple costumes. As you prepare to open gifts
explain how we give gifts as a reminder of how much God gave us in
Jesus.
Long after the new
toys are banished to the back of the closet and the decorations stored
away for another year, the memories of the four weeks of Advent will
remain. Don't be surprised if it turns out to be your favorite
tradition!
Additional Advent
Activities
• As Christmas cards
arrive, save them with the Advent wreath and use your Advent prayer time
to pray for the senders.
• Do an Advent service project for the needy. Collect money or goods and
use a portion of the Advent time to decide whom to help and how to do
it. Some possibilities are to join a church's gift-giving project, call
the Salvation Army for names of families who are needy, send a special
food or gift package to a missionary or give anonymously to those you
know in need.
• Use your nativity set with as many animals as possible to enact the
story. (Great for younger kids!) Some families set up the manger scene
and each day move the people and animals in a little closer.
• Add occasional craft times to the end of an Advent ceremony. Make
ornaments using salt dough or glue pictures of family members on flat
foam shapes and decorate.
• Make cookies or candies to share at the conclusion of your Advent
time, or make special Advent cookies different from Christmas ones.
• Have children bring homemade instruments to enhance the singing.
• If you have competitive children, alternate who will light the candle,
pick the carol, lead the prayers and read the Bible.
• Invite your friends to share an Advent evening with you.
Advent Readings
The length of the
Advent season depends on which day of the week Christmas falls on. This
schedule includes all possible 28 days of Advent. For shorter seasons
adjust this schedule by doubling up on some readings or eliminating the
final two readings, which record events after Christ's birth.
First Week
Sun. Is. 40:1-5
Mon. Is. 52:7-10
Tue. Is. 40:9-11
Wed. Gen. 3:8-15
Thu. Gen. 15:1-6
Fri. Deut. 18:15-19
Sat. Ps. 89:1-4
Second Week
Sun. Is. 11:1-10
Mon. Zech. 6:12-13
Tue. Mic. 5:2-4
Wed. Mal. 3:1-6
Thu. John 1:1-8
Fri. John 1:9-18
Sat. Mark 1:1-3
Third Week
Sun. Luke 1:5-13
Mon. Luke 1:14-17
Tue. Luke 1:18-25
Wed. Luke 1:39-45
Thu. Luke 1:46-56
Fri. Luke 1:57-66
Sat. Luke 1:67-80
Fourth Week
Sun. Is. 7:10-14
Mon. Luke 1:26-35
Tue. Is. 9:2-7
Wed. Mt. 1:18-25
Thu. Luke 2:1-20
Fri. Mt. 2:1-2
Sat. Luke 2:21-35
