What is Advent?
Advent is a very special season where Christians celebrate the weeks leading up to Christmas as a time of focused anticipation on the gift of love and joy given to all people through the birth of Jesus Christ; however, this was not always the case--even though this was the original intention of the Advent season.
The articles below give insightful information about this joyous season and the traditions of Advent.
opens new windowWhat is Advent? Read what Justin Holcomb writes about the origin of the Advent traditions.
opens new windowHow to Find Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love This Advent Read as Robert Hampshire offers some intriguing insights about how Advent may indeed help people focus on the true meaning of Christmas during the rather chaotic holiday madness by intentionally setting time aside to remember the anticipation of the Savior and what Jesus gave to the world.
opens new windowThe Purpose and Symbolism of the Advent Wreath Read how Mercy Home celebrates the Advent season and how symbolism through Advent traditions highlights the true meaning of Christmas in the hearts of all.
opens new windowAdvent - A Countdown to Christmas Read as Focus on the Family highlights why families should take the time to celebrate Advent.
opens new windowWhy Advent is More Jewish Than You Think Read Michelle Van Loon's perspective about Advent and how it is interpreted from a Jewish perspective.
Fun Seasonal Links
Image: www.Caravaggio.org
The Nativity scene painted by Caravaggio is not only a beautiful depiction of the Nativity scene but is also a painting with a rather intriguing story. Painted in 1609 it was stolen in 1969 and as of this date has still not been recovered. Learn more about this art work by clicking the links below:
Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence
Former Mobster May Hold Clue to Recovery of Stolen Caravaggio
Image: "Adoration of the Child" by Gerrit Van Honthorst
Learn more about the beautiful tenebrism art technique Gerrit Van Honthorst used to create his contrast of light and darkness. (If you look closely, you will see Joseph next to Mary peering down at the baby Jesus.)
Gerrit Van Honthorst's "Adoration of the Child"
Advent Calendar History
Kids of all ages enjoy keeping an Advent calendar, but where did this tradition come from?
Learn more about this topic by checking out the resources below.
opens new windowThe History of Advent Calendars by Alex Wakelam
opens new windowDiscover the History Behind the Advent Calendar
opens new windowThe History of the Advent Calendar by Kath Bates
Films for Advent
- The Nativity StoryISBN: 0780656709
- Mystery of the Three KingsISBN: 1568559747
Observing Advent
- Light of the World Advent DevotionalEvangel University
- Advent Wreath & Candles: Understanding the Meaning, History & TraditionLaura Richie, Crosswalk
Devotionals for the Advent Season
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association offers a free opens new window Advent Devotional Guide to help prepare individuals for this special season.
- The Journey by Take a Christmas break and sit down with pastor and best-selling author Adam Hamilton as he guides you through a four-week devotional based on the most joyous event in history. Created for individual use or as a companion to the primary book, The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem, you'll find short, reflective devotions combined with Scripture readings and heartfelt prayers. Each daily devotional is designed to draw you in to a closer fellowship with God as you reflect and respond to this Christmas season. The Journey: A Season of Reflections is a great gift idea for family, friends, teachers, and ministry leaders. The Journey: A Season of Reflections, a four-week devotional created for individual use or as a companion to the primary book, The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem, is a great gift idea for family, friends, teachers, and ministry leaders. You'll find short, reflective devotions combined with Scripture readings and heartfelt prayers. Each daily devotional is designed to draw you in to a closer fellowship with God as you reflect and respond to this Christmas season. "If you think you know the story of Jesus' birth, think again This wonderful book sets us on a journey to the times and characters of Christmas so that we experience the birth of Christ in our lives in a new way." --Joel C. Hunter, author of Church DistributedCall Number: Ministry Matters DatabaseISBN: 9781426714269Publication Date: 2011-09-01
- Anticipate by This 4-week devotional will guide and prepare the reader for the celebration of Christmas. Anticipate uses Old Testament prophecies to guide families and individuals as they learn to live into the story of God. Every week a new theme will be explored through daily interactive elements, prayers, and devotional readings. Through the practice of the Jesse Tree, everyone can experience the twenty-five symbols of Christmas each day of the Anticipate journey.Call Number: eBookISBN: 9780834128576Publication Date: 2012-08-01
- Celebrate The Advent season is a time to celebrate that our God came, is coming, and will come again. As we travel the road to Christmas, the presence of Christ is being revealed in our world. He is in our midst and takes up residence in our hearts. There are many ways to celebrate this time of anticipation- festivities, gifts, songs, food, time with friends and family, and traditions. There is one tradition of receiving a small gift each day through the use of the Advent calendar. In this 4-week devotional for families, you will be encouraged to participate in this tradition- with a twist. This Advent season, Celebrate will challenge you to fill your Advent calendar with daily acts of mercy. Instead of celebrating by preparing to lavish resources where there is merely want, prepare by lavishing mercy where there is need. Lives get busy during this time of the year, and making life busier is not the goal of this experience. The devotionals, readings, and other materials are designed to help you enter more deeply into this season of Advent. Celebrate through acts of mercy.Call Number: eBookISBN: 9780834130494Publication Date: 2013-10-01
Books for Advent
- Everlasting Light by This collection of litanies, candlelighting services, a hanging of the greens service, and more offers worship resources for the three years of lectionary reading for Advent, including the Sunday after Christmas.Call Number: eBookISBN: 9780827208377Publication Date: 2013-10-30
- Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Services by Jesus: God's Unlikely Revelation Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Services includes biblically-based sermons, suggested scriptures, children's time, hymn and prayers, as well as litanies for lighting the Advent wreath. Also included are suggestions for seasonal funerals. These services offer a completing message of hope during this important church season, when people often visit a church for the first time. Each service focuses on and celebrates a different aspect of the theme: Jesus: God's Unlikely Revelation 1. First Sunday of Advent- Jesus: The Unlikely Image of God (Genesis 1:26-27; Colossians 1:15-17) 2. Second Sunday in Advent Jesus: The Unlikely Gift from God (Isaiah 55:1-9) 3. Third Sunday of Advent Jesus: The Unlikely Story of God with Us (Matthew 1:18-25) 4. Fourth Sunday of Advent Jesus: The Unlikely Messiah (John 7:25-31) 5. Christmas Eve Jesus: An Unlikely Peacemaker (Luke 2:8-20) 6. Christmas Day An Unlikely Christmas Card (Matthew 2:13-23) 7. Epiphany John the Baptizer: Jesus' Unlikely Herald (John 1:1-14) Seasonal FuneralsCall Number: Ministry Matters DatabaseISBN: 9781426706806Publication Date: 2010-04-01
- Just in Time! Prayers for Advent and Christmas by Handy, helpful prayers to use in public worship during Advent and Christmas. The collection includes invocations, opening prayers, prayers of confession, and pastoral prayers for the Sundays of Advent, and Christmas Eve services. Drawn from a variety of traditions, the prayers in this collection will aid any congregation as it worships throughout the journey of Advent.Call Number: Ministry Matters DatabaseISBN: 9781426748226Publication Date: 2012-05-01
- A Coming Christ in Advent by Father Brown reflects here not only on those annunciations of Jesus' forthcoming birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, but also on the beautiful canticles, the Magnificat and the Benedictus, and on the origins of Jesus as given in the first words of the New Testament.ISBN: 0814615872Publication Date: 1988-10-01
- Advent Services by Ready-to-use worship and preaching resources for the four Sundays in Advent including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Includes biblically-based sermon briefs, suggested Scriptures, hymns, prayers, and litanies for lighting the Advent Wreath. To help pastors minister more effectively during this important church season. Contents include: Introduction: The Ways We Know Jesus First Sunday in Advent: Emmanuel Second Sunday in Advent: Son of Man Third Sunday in Advent: Example Fourth Sunday in Advent: Lord Christmas Eve: Son of God Christmas Day: Word of GodCall Number: Ministry Matters DatabaseISBN: 0687465818Publication Date: 2007-03-01