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A few weeks ago, I got a letter from an editor throwing a fit at the secular, commercial Advent calendar and asking if I would write about Advent.
For many, the Advent calendar is about counting down the 24 days until Christmas.
The business calendar for doing so is rich. As I was writing, I saw an ad on Facebook for a Harry Potter Advent calendar. Every year, Costco has an Advent calendar of Belgian beers. Friends received calendars with craft supplies. Candies or small toys are common calendar gifts.
This countdown comes from the first season of the Christian church year, known as Advent.
The season includes the four Sundays before Christmas, so 2022 will start on Sunday. In 2023, it will start on December 3.
Christmas begins on December 25th and lasts until January 6th, Epiphany. These are the 12 Days of Christmas, known from the song.
For those who follow the church calendar, Advent is a time of meditation, waiting, and contemplation of the Savior, a time similar to Lent, but more hopeful than repentant. Some who do not strictly observe the church year use December 1-25 as their meditation time.
The word advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning to come or visit.
Christian Network Saying that early Advent was about new believers preparing for baptism and anticipating Epiphany. By the sixth century, Advent looked forward to the return of Christ. In the Middle Ages, Advent was associated with Christmas.
Author Rachel Held Evans, who died in 2019, said on her blog, “Advent is a season of anticipation, a divine wait. The hallmark of this waiting is not laziness. , not even contented peace, but prophetic surrender and positive hope.”
She proposes five questions that can help people prepare for Advent.
- How would I be different when I woke up on Christmas morning? How do I hope my meditations and practices will shape me this season?
- How can I prepare myself, my home, and my family for Jesus’ coming in a way that fosters a spirit of anticipation and hope?
- During the busy holiday season, do I leave enough space to pay attention, listen, wait, and be surprised? What practical steps can I take to protect those quiet moments while also embracing divine distractions?
- Consider the effect of light. It can be warm and channeling or revealing and surprising. What does light in darkness mean to the world? What does this season mean to my life?
- What does it mean to hear the voices of the prophets this season—not only the prophets of old, but the prophets of today? Who is calling for justice and peace on the fringes, and how will I respond to their cries?
Help flag Advent
Advent books are available from many Christian publishers. Some people read every day. Some offer different levels of activity. Your Favorite Bookseller can help you find a bookstore that meets your needs.
Also, many Advent calendars are posted online – search for one that fits your needs. Be sure to check your denomination’s website.
Every year, I try to mention two of my favorites, an online Advent calendar that can be considered artistically.
Busted Halo takes on a photography challenge.access bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/2022-instaadvent-photo-challenge Check out the daily tips, then take a photo to share on social media. This page lists ways to share images. Sunday’s prompt is “What Gives Me Hope.”
Advent.bustedhalo.com There is a short animation explaining what Advent is and what it is not. On Sundays, the URL will also have a daily Advent calendar.
the other is https://adventword.org/ or www.facebook.com/AdventWordOrg/. While this calendar didn’t start out as an art tip, it can be used as such. On Sunday, it’s “walking” for its first term.
Advent Word is available in multiple languages ​​and has daily meditations and announcement inserts.
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