Advent means “coming,” from the Latin word adventus, and demarks a season of expectantly preparing to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, while eagerly awaiting His second coming to establish His kingdom, even as we celebrate His presence among us through the promised Holy Spirit. As it’s celebrated in the Anglican Church, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and is observed through Christmas Eve.
Each candle represents a theme and is lit on successive Sundays. This devotional (PDF format) is structured around the four weeks of Advent:
- hope (or promise),
- preparation (or waiting or prophecy),
- joy (or peace),
- love (or adoration).
Each week begins with an Advent celebration on Sunday, which you can use individually or with your family. You’ll find scripture readings, a short devotional, family discussion questions, an advent song to sing together, and a collect from the BCP. Please feel free to use what you like and take out what doesn’t fit for you or your family.
The purpose of this devotional is not to get more favor with God—Jesus already secured His approval when He took our place on the cross. You are preapproved in Jesus; He invites you to rest in His finished work. The purpose of this devotional is to help us worship Jesus as we gain a greater sense of awe and wonder at who He is.
We prepare our hearts so that when we admire the live nativity scene, when we sit in the candlelight service, and when we wake up on Christmas morning, we can join the faithful who have gone before us and sing from the bottom of our hearts, “O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
