Observing Advent as a Family
In less than a week, Advent will begin. Pinterest boards and blogs overflow with beautiful, meaningful ways to celebrate the Advent season. Truthfully, when I look at some plans that other parents can implement with their kids, I’m overwhelmed. Dinner at my house usually involves three little kids.
Food splatters on the floor, at least one cup spilled (most often onto someone else’s plate of food), and at least a few tears. Doing a full-fledged Jesse Tree or reading a book every night is outside my realm of possibility. If I tried, I would probably bring deformation to my family, rather than positive spiritual formation. Still, I long to make meaningful traditions in my family that help us all draw nearer to God through the Christian calendar.
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Observing Advent by Preparing the Way of the Lord
Advent literally means “the coming.” This season is about preparation, not performance or perfection. We are preparing our hearts to welcome Christ in his coming. First, by setting the groundwork to understand the story of the incarnation as he came to Bethlehem. Then, in grateful awareness of how he has come to us in our own salvation story. We also yearn in holy anticipation as we look to Christ’s second coming.
As John the Baptist cried out, “Prepare the way of the Lord,” in anticipation of Christ’s manifestation to the world (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4), we can mark Advent in simple ways. These remind us and others that we are preparing the way of the Lord. In Advent, we prepare ourselves to meet Christ afresh as Savior and Lord.
With three kids around the table, and two or three glasses of water knocked over and running off the edge of the table, things can be chaotic. There might also be a baby hollering for more Cheerios. How can I walk through Advent, preparing the way of the Lord? Below are a few simple suggestions for living liturgically in real life.
A Simple Prayer & Cards: Advent Observation in Action
Pray the collect for each week of Advent. You can repeat the prayer each night for the week, or pray it Sunday night at dinner. Maybe breakfast is the only time you are all together around the table; pray it then! Even before you start the car on the way to school, a deep breath and a prayer can be a tangible way to invite the Holy Spirit into your daily lives as a family.
Pray together as a family during Advent. Before Advent begins, gather 24 index cards and write the names of 24 people, countries, unreached people groups, loved ones, friends, or family members you know are in need. Each day, when you gather with your family, choose one card and pray for the person or need listed on it. For some families, this rhythm of daily prayer might be overwhelming. Instead, choose four loved ones to pray for, one for each Sunday of Advent. Beginning to pray together as a family can yield beautiful growth for each person.
Observing with a Simple Song & Purple Napkins
My boys’ favorite way to celebrate Advent is by singing. We sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” when we light our Advent candles each night. The first week of Advent, we sing one verse. The second week, we sing verses one and two. By the end of Advent last year, my boys had both learned four verses by heart and loved this simple way to mark the time until the birth of Christ.
The liturgical color of Advent is purple, which signifies royalty (our King Jesus!) and penitence as we prepare our hearts for his coming. Purchase purple paper napkins to use during the Advent season. Alternatively, if you have one, consider using a purple tablecloth or runner.
Advent Candles, Wreaths, Nativity: Observing by Imitation
If you have a nativity set or creche, set it up in a common area. Set the Holy Family across the room. Each Sunday during Advent, or each time you remember, move the Holy Family closer to the manger as we travel closer to Jesus’ birth. Hide baby Jesus until Christmas Eve and have the kids find him.
What’s more, you can create space for a simple Advent wreath with candles this year. Each evening, or every Sunday, turn off all the lights nearby and light the correct number of candles for the week. A simple prayer or a short song can accompany this. This is an effortless way to mark Advent that engages even the youngest child.
Service in Your Home
One family I read about here has a stocking for Jesus. They also have a pile of paper strips nearby. When someone sees another family member serving or loving someone, they write it down and put it in the stocking. They save the stocking until next Advent and read all the strips of paper together before Advent begins. (I would spend time reading the strips during the Christmas season, too!).
Service Outside Your Home
Find a way to serve together as a family. Delivering meals to those in need, collecting money for children who might not get any Christmas presents, and making toiletry care packages for any homeless people you might see as you drive. Alternatively, consider visiting someone you know who is feeling lonely. Christianity is a family, and we should be mindful of those who may not have families to visit. We will remember,
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins
Consider taking some time this Advent to create space for preparation. In doing so, when Christmas arrives, you will be ready—not just for the presents and the tree, but for the Savior King, born in Bethlehem.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Luke 4:18-19
Image by Erika Varga from Pixabay
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