There is one right way to do Advent: love Jesus. The more liturgical folks might disagree, but my thinking is that exactly how you love Jesus is up to you.
If you’re looking for some ideas, though, on how you might upgrade your Christmas season, here are some of my own thoughts:
The perfect Advent season begins with prayer. Our own efforts to create a perfect season produce false results that will leave as empty as before. It is God who provides the direction, the ability, and the right heart to plan an Advent setting where his Spirit can work.
As you pray, consider these four main aspects of Advent:
Purpose|Structure
Picture your “perfect Christmas/Advent season”: what are you doing, what does it feel like, who are you with? Using this image, think about your purpose or focus for the season. What activities can you add that will make this more possible? What needs to be eliminated from your regular Christmas routine that could take away from what you really want from the season?
Reflection|Worship
Make plans for reflection and worship. What will you do in your own time with God? What might you do differently to make your time with God “extra special”? What are some meaningful ways you can help your family enter into worship and reflection? Establish a general guide for this time, being sensitive to God’s leading as the season progresses. You can choose to do you own studies and reflection on some Advent themes, traditional (Hope, Peace, Joy, Love) or other…or, you can simply enjoy an Advent reading plan or devotional that has already been written. And of course, you can join me right here at ADVENT 2008.
Traditions|Memories
Religious rituals and traditions are a really great thing. But they only have value if they mean something to us. Research and add some that you and/or your family might enjoy. And as you build these memories, remember that how it is done — the heart and attitude behind it – is more significant than what is done.
Here are some places to start:
The Season of Advent
The Jesse Tree
Wikipedia: advent
Wikipedia: advent wreath
what our family does for advent
Giving|Loving
Think about how you can give more love. How can you serve and love on the people in your family and community? Next, look at your motivation behind what you give and who you give it to. It is easy to get caught up in the do’s or don’t's of giving gifts. Instead, lift up the issue to God and ask Him how you can better reflect him through your giving.
Want to share your ideas and suggestions? Add them below:
Oh THERE you are!!! Greetings from the sticks!
I’m so excited to find your advent site. My family has been celebrating the advent season for about 6 years, although we’ve had to modify a little since trying to do it with toddlers. We are using a combination of “A Family Advent Celebration” and the “Advent Storybook” to celebrate. We read fast. We sing fast. We give the kids Dum Dum suckers to keep their hands off the candles and their little mouths quiet for the story. I was so relieved to see your comment that all we need to celebrate advent is to love Jesus. And we do. Sometimes we love Him sticky, sometimes we love Him tired and cranky, sometimes we love Him with giggles, but it’s all the same, really.
This has become the best part of the Christmas celebration for me. I really miss the candles and the time of focus and worship when Christmas finally arrives. You’ve been such an encouragement to me, and I appreciate your very real observations and humor! I’ll continue to follow your advent story as my family observes the season.
And now that I’ve figured out how to comment, finally, I’ll try to input!