Advent is my favorite season of the Christian year. I especially love the colors, sites, and smells of the season, not to mention Christmas cookies!
Advent is a great reminder for traditional churches and Fresh Expressions of the mystery of the Virgin birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Church Year for Christians all over the world. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). During Advent, we prepare our hearts for the mystery of the incarnation by focusing on the Virgin Birth and the faith of the Virgin Mary, the shepherds, and the wise men.
In particular, Advent is a time to join together with others to celebrate Christ’s birth. It can also be a wonderful time to celebrate your faith together as a family. As a family, my wife and I have learned the joy of celebrating Advent with our children. You can also follow the season with your children with meaningful traditions that include Bible readings, prayers, and crafts. Here are some fun ideas that will help you celebrate Advent with your family.
10 Ideas for Advent
- Make an Advent Wreath with your children. Making an Advent Wreath can be fun and easy. Each week there is a different candle, Scripture, and prayers.
- Make a Jesse Tree, which is a depiction in art of the ancestors of Christ.
- Set up or create a nativity set with your children. One of the simplest ways to remember the Christmas story with your children is to enact the Christmas story by setting out a nativity set.
- Visit a nursing home and sing carols to residents.
- Take some time to make homemade decorations and decorate the Christmas tree together.
- Shop and give gifts to a child or a family in need.
- Go caroling in your neighborhood with your family or other church members.
- Take a night and talk about what Advent means to you.
- Read the Christmas story together from the Bible.
- Give a gift and change a life by sponsoring a child, giving an animal or a micro loan through an organization like Compassion International or World Vision.
