Saturday, December 22, 2007

Our Family Advent Celebration


The word advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” It is a time of contemplation and worship as we look for the coming of our Savior. The season of Advent is celebrated for the four Sundays before Christmas.

We love to celebrate the Advent of our Savior during this season. Our family chose colors and meanings for each candle of the Advent Wreath. We aslo chose to add a fifth candle that we light on Christmas morning. We remember Jesus using the following symbols:

White candle—Jesus, Our Peace
Purple candle—Jesus, Our King
Blue candle—Jesus, Our God
Red candle—Jesus, Our Sacrifice
Yellow candle—Jesus, Our Hope


We developed a "script" of sorts with related Scriptures and Christmas Carols to use during our worship. Last week we decided to make our Advent Celebration part of breakfast. Since then our children have been asking to hold hands and sing together at each meal. It has been a special time of family bonding and teaching.

On Christmas morning we read Isaiah 25 and reflect upon the Babe the manger Who brings us the sure hope of salvation through His sacrifice.

Isaiah 25 (New International Version)
Praise to the LORD

1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done marvelous things,
things planned long ago.
6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
7 On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
8 he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people
from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.
9 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

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