Advent is a time of waiting, of anticipating, of peace, hope, joy and love. It's the beginning of the Liturgical New Year and is like the New Year for Christians. We prepare for the light to come into the world at this darkest time of year. The word "Advent" means "coming." It prepares to celebrate the remembrance of the coming of Christ as the baby born at Bethlehem at the first Christmas.
Advent can also be for us a time of personal anticipation, waiting for new things to arise in our lives, new habits, new ways of being. As we light the advent candles each week, one for each Sunday of Advent and then the Christ candle for Christmas Eve, we are participating in a ritual of Faith that goes back a long long way. Each week the candle holds a different theme: Peace, Hope, Joy and Love.
Create your own way to recognize the coming of the Christ child each Sunday of Advent. Check out the advent pics below for some ideas. Light the candle each week with intention, read the lectionary for the day, share your thoughts around how we can make our lives more peaceful, more hopeful, more joyful, more loving and celebrate the new year with the youth you know.
Happy New Year!
© This prayer practice and all of those on the Sunday Morning Blog Post
can be found in: "Go Deep: Spiritual Practices for Youth
Ministry" Wood Lake Publishing.
Doris is the Youth Director for the United Church of Canada in BC and the Director of World Pilgrim Global Education.
Doris is the Youth Director for the United Church of Canada in BC and the Director of World Pilgrim Global Education.
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