Advent 2011

What is Advent?

Advent is a time of anticipation. It is a time of longing. What are you anticipating this Christmas season? What are you looking forward to? Throughout church history, Christians have used the weeks prior to Christmas as a time of anticipation, longing for the Messiah and remembering those who longed for His coming. Countless people in the Bible waited their whole lives, hearing the promise of a Messiah, yet never seeing the Promised One born.

Today, we don’t want to miss that sense of excitement and longing at Christmastime. Jesus has already come, but we also know that He’s coming again! Advent is a time we can be freshly amazed that the Messiah has come and that we can grow closer to Him and that we look forward to His coming again.

So, what is Advent? The word Advent simply means “coming” or “arrival.” Advent is a season where the church celebrates and anticipates the coming of Jesus at Christmas. It has traditionally been a time Christians have celebrated the arrival of the Messiah. For many years, Christians have lit candles around an Advent Wreath, had family devotions, and read the stories and prophecies about the Messiah.

How can I celebrate Advent with my family?

Start by putting a weekly night on the calendar to spend time together. The Family Devotional guide below can give you all the ideas you’ll need on what to do on those nights, or feel free to do your own thing. Whatever you choose, here are the suggested topics and timeline for CCK's Advent 2011:

  • Week of Nov 27 – Dec 3  ::  Devotion 1  ::  Light of the World
  • Week of December 4-10  ::  Devotion 2  ::  Promised Messiah
  • Week of December 11-17  ::  Devotion 3  ::  Mighty God
  • Week of December 18-24  ::  Devotion 4  ::  Immanuel
  • Christmas Eve or Christmas Day  ::  Devotion 5  ::  Jesus is born

So pick one night in each of these weeks for a family devotion. It may work best to do your family devotion during or just after dinnertime. You’ll review verses you heard during the Sunday Celebrations at Cornerstone, talk about the birth of Jesus, and do a hands-on activity if you choose.

What do I do during Advent Family Devotions?

The Advent Devotional guide below contains ideas for all ages—children, teens and adults. You’ll see two options for each week. You choose the option that works best for your family. The two options are:

  • 1  ::  Advent Craft  ::  This option may be best for younger children. It is a hands-on option good to keep kids occupied. Over the month of December, they will create Christmas tree ornaments that represent some names of Jesus (which are also the theme for CCK’s Advent Worship series). You could make your own ornaments each week, or use a pattern such as this to create ornaments with many names of Jesus on them. While their hands are busy, this guide will give you ideas of what to talk about and questions to ask.
  • 2  ::  Advent Wreath  ::  This may work better with older kids, teens and adults. It is less about hands-on ideas and more about reading the Biblical passages and discussion. You will need an Advent Wreath which you can easily make using candles and a green wreath, or purchase one online or at many bookstores. You do not have to have the traditional violet and rose candles, but those are fine to use.

Download CCK's Advent 2011 Family Devotional Guide

or click here to download last year's Advent Devotions.

We hope this Advent Family Devotional Guide is helpful to your family during the Advent Season. God Bless and Merry Christmas.