Hello and welcome to Beauty – the no-frills, no-nonsense podcast about all things beauty. True beauty. God’s beauty. I am your host, Deanna, and today we are talking about the beauty of advent.
A few months ago I was thinking about advent and about what I will do – what I will read this year. It made me start thinking about advent of years past. I don’t really remember doing much with advent as a kid. I vaguely remember an advent calendar, but I think maybe the candy was the highlight because I don’t remember the scripture or anything that might have gone with it.
As a mom, I didn’t do a lot with advent with my kids. Although I knew about advent, I thought it was just a Catholic thing, and I was not a practicing Catholic. When I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I was in my late 20’s, and I had two kids who had never really been around church much. We started attending a church that didn’t really focus on the season of advent, per se. It wasn’t until I went to seminary school that I really learned about advent.
My first job out of seminary was at a little country church. If you know anything about little country churches, you know they are usually deeply rooted in faith and scripture. This one was no exception when it came to advent and it was during my two years there that I began to appreciate everything I learned in seminary and I was thankful for a season that allowed me time to slow down, quiet my heart, and focus on Jesus.
Through the years, I have tried different advent studies. They are all fairly similar, in that there is reading and reflection involved. Many of the same scriptures are used in all the plans, but they are all different in the things that accompany the study – like crafts for kids, journaling, additional reading commentary, and discussion questions. I would have to say my most favorite advent study is the Revised Common Lectionary. I have cycled through this reading plan five or six times through the years – and anyone who knows me knows that is a big deal because I don’t like to repeat things. I really like that it uses some different scripture text during advent and it really forces you to think deeply about Jesus (at least it did for me).
This year, I have decided to revisit the Revised Common Lectionary (and possibly also Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s God is in the Manger), and I have also decided to let you journey with me. I have written out the readings for you (you can also find them online), but I have also included a few, short thoughts of my own to spur your own reflection and discussion time if you are doing this with friends or family. If you are looking for a deep, theological study – this is not it (maybe look into Bonhoeffer). If you are looking for fun crafts for your kids – also not it (not my wheelhouse). I did include a few ideas each week of something you could do to reinforce scripture with kids, but it is never extraordinarily fun (or IG worthy). My main goal with sharing this advent study truly was to get you into scripture and using your own brain to reflect and draw near to God.
That’s the point of our journey, isn’t it? To draw near to God. To align our heart with his heart, and learn to see his hand upon our lives. We can’t do that without knowing scripture, and this is just one path for you to walk. Whether you are beginning your journey or rekindling the friendship or you’ve been walking with God for years and years – this is a great little companion for you during the advent season. I am a simple and basic girl and this study is much of the same. Like I said, there are no deep thoughts. This is just me, encouraging you to open your bible and bring yourself into the story he has written for us.
If you are interested in reading along, you can download the guide here. And be sure to follow my IG, where I will post a few additional thoughts throughout the month. This year, advent starts November 27th and goes through December 24th, so if you have not picked out a study, it is time to get crackin’ on that!
So, tell me, what have you done in the past for advent, and what are you planning for this year? I hope we can study together with hopeful anticipation for the next part of the story.
D 😊
