It happens almost every year…I get so wrapped up in fall and its delicious smells, fun colors and events, the first Sunday of Advent usually takes me by surprise. This is often the cycle …I’ve waited until the Monday before Thanksgiving to start decorating the house, creating the menu and grocery list and setting the table for our Thanksgiving meal. While I am gathering the Thanksgiving napkins and serving platters from the storage bins it strikes me that Advent is less than a week away! I then begin frantically rummaging through my Christmas boxes in the basement, hoping that the Advent supplies will be on top. They rarely are easily accessible and I become distracted by all the Christmas decorations found while digging to find those precious pink and purple candles.
I can feel the anxiety creeping into my body as I begin to panic. ”I don’t have time to be up to my eyeballs in storage boxes,” “Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I still have the sweet potato casserole to put together,” “The house is still decorated for fall because guess what? It is still fall! This is too much!” When I finally find the Advent supplies but no candles, just the wreath, I remember that I was planning to order all new candles this year! I grab my phone and get on my Amazon Prime app to see if they can get the candles I want by Sunday evening and read that they can deliver them on Saturday! Crisis averted! Hallelujah!!
I share some of my jumbled up, conflicting thoughts and emotions to encourage you that if the thoughts of celebrating one. more. thing. is overwhelming to you, you aren’t alone. Advent begins on the heels of American Thanksgiving and all of the traditions associated with that holiday - Black Friday shopping, college football games, leftovers of turkey and pumpkin pie. It’s difficult to switch gears so suddenly, but observing Advent is worth it!
Perhaps a better way to think of it is less “observing Advent” and more “practicing Advent together.” We practice sharing meals together, around the table rather than in front of the television or in the car, running from activity to activity. We practice sharing a devotional time together, digging into God’s Word and remembering His faithfulness to His promise of Messiah through the generations. We practice slowing down each evening around the glow of the Advent candles, praying and singing together. It is a beautiful practice.
Let’s Get Started!
To practice Advent, you will need a few supplies - an Advent wreath, five candles: one pink, three purple and one large white. The size and style of the wreath and candles are completely up to your own personal taste. You can use large pillar candles and place them amongst a wreath made from greenery from your yard, taper candles placed in holders built into an artificial or even metal wreath, or anything in between.
Once you’ve gathered everything, place the Advent wreath and candles in the center of the table where you will be eating your meals. You’ll also want a Bible, an Advent devotional, matches or a lighter and a candle snuffer close by. This year, because our theme highlights Jesus’ genealogy, I’m writing a devotional coloring book for your children and grandchildren. Included in their version of God’s Promise Through the Generations will be a cardstock tree and ornaments for each day to commemorate Jesus’ Family Tree. Whether you have children around your table or like me, are a kid at heart, you’ll want to gather those materials and add a paper ornament to your tree each day. And just like that, you’re ready for Advent! I don’t know about you, but I’m going to practice some serious self control, close the Christmas bins and basement door and get back to basting my turkey!
If you are new to practicing Advent, or like me and need to quickly place an Amazon order, feel free to check out these options:
Note: Enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends and we’ll come back together on Friday for a more formal introduction to Advent and our theme for this year’s devotional.
