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Celebrating Advent in the Home
If there is one memory most children will remember, it is how they celebrated Christmas at home. It is usually a wonderful time of food, gifts, singing, and bonding together. My family and I celebrated Christmas as well, and I knew it centered on the birth of Jesus. At home, we had lights in our windows, a Christmas tree in our living room, and (best of all) presents under the tree.
When I had my children, I searched for a family Christmas tradition we could enjoy each year—one that moved us away from the commercialized version of Christmas to one deeply rooted in the Bible and Christian tradition. In my search, the Padron family encouraged us to adopt this rich tradition of celebrating Advent. It started one Sunday in late November. The Padrons asked me if they could share their Christmas tradition with our church family throughout December. They brought an Advent wreath with colorful candles to our church and explained that Advent is a season of worshipping Jesus, the promised Savior who has come, and will come again.
What is Advent?
Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” It is a special time when the church remembers the promises of Jesus’ first coming and looks forward to his promise to come again. Just as John the Baptist told the Jewish people to “prepare” for the Lord’s coming, we are to encourage one another to be ready for his second coming. The
Christian church has observed the Christmas season since the 4th century, and this observance always included a preparation period before Christmas Day. In the 10th century, the Christian community settled on the four-week Advent pattern of preparation, which means we have been doing this for 1,000 years!
Why do we celebrate Advent?
This celebration is a powerful opportunity to rekindle or begin a devotional life for ourselves and our families. Advent can help us restore Jesus to the center of the Christmas celebration as we read, sing, and talk about the need for a Savior. The season is a time for remembering and rejoicing, watching and waiting. It is a time to reflect upon God’s promises and anticipate the fulfillment of those promises. We celebrate that God is faithful, he has been faithful, and he will always be faithful.
When is Advent?
The season begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and, depending on the year, can last from 22 to 28 days. Each of the four weeks features a different liturgical theme. However, the best celebration is the one that matches your family’s rhythm.
What do we need to celebrate Advent with our family?
It depends on how you want to celebrate. There are several different traditions people use to celebrate the Advent season. One popular tradition we have adopted in our family involves using our Bible, Advent wreaths, and candles. This symbolic tradition mirrors multiple expressions of light in the Old and New Testaments, and more importantly, Jesus being the light of the world. A new candle is lit each week in anticipation of the final lighting on Christmas Eve. Other helpful items include Christ-centered children’s stories for younger children and Christmas music.
What do the candles mean?
Laura Richie, author of The Advent Storybook, provides the following explanation:
● The first candle, the “Prophet’s Candle,” symbolizes hope The Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah, hoped for the Messiah’s arrival.
● The second candle, called “Bethlehem’s Candle,” represents faith. Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, forging a connection between Kind David and his coming descendent whose kingdom and throne would be established forever.
● The third candle, the “Shepherd’s Candle,” symbolizes joy To the shepherds’ great joy, angels announced that Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them.
● The fourth candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” represents peace. The angels proclaimed that Jesus brought peace on earth and brought people closer to God and each other again.
● The (optional) fifth candle, “Christ’s Candle,” represents purity and light. It is placed in the middle of the wreath and lit on Christmas Day to commemorate the arrival of the Light of the World.1
Are there additional ways to use the Advent season to help us focus on Christ and others?
Yes! We have created this Advent Moments resource (located at the end of this article) to help turn everyday moments into memorable moments with God. Do as many of these activities as you want with your family.
An Opportunity for Discipleship
In Psalm 78, the writer reminds us to “tell the coming generation [about] the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments (Psalm 78:4, 7 ESV).
Curriculum Developer Shawna Murlin writes,
As we show our children God’s plan of redemption through a promised Savior, we pray they will see the glorious deed of the Lord. When we read about the multitude of angels, shepherds and magi worshiping Jesus, we show our children the might of our King. When we praise God for sending us Jesus, to save us from our sins, we can marvel with our children at the wonders He has done in saving us while we were yet sinners.
Let’s use the season of Advent to help our children in setting their hope in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments. Let’s start a new tradition . . . and set aside time each week around the table, before bed or even in the car to lead your family in purposefully reflecting on God’s greatest gift, our Savior, Jesus Christ!2
December is notoriously the busiest month of the year. Christmas programs at school and church, family gatherings, and last-minute preparations crowd out any free time. Creating space for your family to remember Jesus’ coming to earth to be with us is an opportunity for discipleship, not a task to be completed. With just a little bit of intentionality, start a conversation with your kids about Christ. You won’t regret it!
Advent Candle Readings (3)
(Written by Dr. Andrew Gabriel, an ordained minister from the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada; shared by permission per his website, https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2017/11/27/advent-candlereadings-families-children/)
“Child 1” is a young child who needs help reading. Each reading will take approximately five minutes.
Week One, Advent—Hope
Parent: Today is special because it is the beginning of a new season. We call this season “Advent.”
Child 1: What does that mean?
Parent: “Advent” is a word that means “to come.” It is a time when we get ready, preparing ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus came when he was born on Christmas day.
Child: What are some things that we might do to get ready?
Child: We should get our hearts ready by thinking about him.
Parent: What we are doing right now around our Advent wreath is a way of preparing for Christmas. This is the first Sunday of Advent.
Child 1: Today, we light one purple candle.
Parent: The traditional color for Advent is purple, which refers to the coming of the royal King, Jesus Christ. Purple is also a deep color that symbolizes spiritual darkness outside the light of Christ.
Child 1: The first candle is the candle of hope.
Child: (Light the first candle.) I lit this candle to remind us that we wait with hope for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know God and worship God.
All: Sing: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” or “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.”
Parent: Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God spoke through prophets in the Old Testament to tell people that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come. This candle of hope is symbolic of the long years of waiting and hoping for when Jesus Christ would come to save the people from their sins. Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah.
Child: Isaiah 7:14- “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Child: Isaiah 9:2- “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Parent: The prophet Isaiah reminds us of the hope that God gives us in Jesus Christ. We have many lights around us at Christmas time.
Child 1: The lights can remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.
Child (Prayer): Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth, just like the prophets said, and for your promise to come again. Thank you, Jesus, for being our light so we know how to live. AMEN.
Discussion:
● What is hope?
● What are the hopes we have for our world today?
● How does God give us hope?
Week Two, Advent—Love
Parent: This is the second Sunday of Advent. Do you remember why we are taking time to be together around our Advent wreath?
Child: To remember that Advent is a time of preparation. During these days we are getting our hearts ready for the coming of the Christ Child. Today, we light two purple candles.
Child 1: Last time we lit the candle of hope. (Light the first purple candle.)
Child: I will light another candle today, on the second Sunday in Advent, to remind us that Jesus came to earth to show and tell us of God’s love. (Light the second purple candle.)
Parent: During Advent, we remember again God’s gift of Jesus to the world and know that God’s love for all people is the reason for this gift.
Child: Love comes at Christmas in Jesus Christ.
All: Sing: “Away in a Manger” or “Angels we have Heard on High.”
Child: When we look at the second candle, we remember God’s love.
Parent: Matthew 1:18- “Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Child: In Matthew 1:20 an angel told Joseph: “The child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Child: John 3:16- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Child 1: During Advent we remember God loves us.
Parent (Prayer): Thank you, God, for your Son, Jesus. Thank you that you love us so much that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to love one another, our friends at school, and people everywhere we go. AMEN.
Discussion:
● How does God show us love by sending Jesus?
● Who are people we know that need the message of God’s love?
● How do we help others know God’s love?
Week Three, Advent—Joy
Parent: This is the third Sunday in Advent. Do you remember why we are taking time to be together around our Advent wreath?
Child: To remember that Advent is a time of preparation. During these days we are getting our hearts ready for the coming of the Christ Child.
Child 1: On the first Sunday we lit the candle of hope. (Light the first purple candle.)
Parent: We wait with hope for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus.
Child: On the second Sunday we lit the candle of love to remind us that Jesus came to earth to show and tell us of God’s love. (Light the second purple candle.)
Child: Today, on the third Sunday of Advent, I will light the candle of joy. (Light the pink candle.) Pink symbolizes a break in the darkness and a time of joy as Christ’s birthday gets closer.
Child: We have joy as we remember God’s gift of Jesus to the world.
Child: Rejoice!
All: Sing: “Joy to the World” or “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”
Parent: When we look at the third candle, we remember God’s promise of joy. God promised to send a Savior to the people.
Child 1: In the Bible, we read of Mary’s joy.
Child: Luke 1:46-47: Mary said, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”
Child: Mary’s words can guide us to look for the joy of God even when things may be uncertain for us.
Child: When Jesus was born, the angels comforted shepherds with the joy of the good news.
Parent: Luke 2:8-11: “There were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!’”
Child 1: During Advent, we rejoice.
Child (Prayer): Lord, today we rejoice. We rejoice because our Lord and Savior, Jesus, was born. Fill our hearts and our days with joy. We rejoice that you are with us always. Help us live in such a way that our words and actions help others know of the joy you give. AMEN
Discussion:
● What is the difference between happiness and joy?
● What are our hopes for joy in our world today?
● How does God give us joy?
Week Four, Advent—Peace
Parent: This is the fourth time we are celebrating Advent. Do you remember why we are taking time to be together around our Advent wreath?
Child 1: To remember that Advent is a time of preparation.
Parent: During these days we are getting our hearts ready for the coming of the Christ Child.
Child: The first time we lit the candle of hope. We wait with hope for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. (Light the first purple candle.)
Child: The second time we lit the candle of love to remind us that Jesus came to earth to show and tell us of God’s love. (Light the second purple candle.)
Child 1: We lit the third candle to remind us that the angels told the shepherds “good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (Light the pink candle.)
Parent: Today, we light the candle of peace. (Light the fourth purple candle.) Our world is not always a peaceful world. People sometimes hurt other people. But God promises peace. During Advent, we pray that we, as well as all people, will seek God’s peace.
All: Sing: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” or “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”
Child 1: When we look at the fourth candle, we remember that the angels told the shepherds about the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Child: Luke 2:13-14: “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’”
Child: Isaiah 9:6: “For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Parent (Prayer): Thank you, Father, for sending your Son, Jesus. Thank you for those in our world today who seek to act for peace. Help us look for ways to be peacemakers at home, at church and at school. AMEN.
Discussion:
● What is peace?
● How does Jesus bring peace to the world?
● What are our hopes for peace in our world today?
Christmas Day Reading
Parent: Today is Christmas. The day we have waited for and prepared for is finally here!
Child: Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Child 1: As we waited for this day we lit four candles.
Parent: The first candle we lit was the candle of hope. (Light the first purple candle.)
Child: The second time we lit the candle of love. (Light the second purple candle.)
Child: The third time we lit the candle of joy. (Light the pink candle.)
Child: The fourth candle we lit was the candle of peace. (Light the fourth purple candle).
Parent: Today, on Christmas, we also light the center white candle. This candle represents Jesus. When we light this candle, we remember Jesus’ birth. Our waiting has ended. (Light the center white candle.)
Child: Luke 2:11: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
All: Sing: “Silent Night” or “Angels from the Realms of Glory.”
Parent: When we look at the center candle, we remember that Jesus is the light of the world.
Child: John 8:12: “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”
Child 1: God sent Jesus to give hope, peace, joy, and love to all people.
Parent: Far away from Bethlehem, wise men saw a star in the sky. They remind us that the gift of Jesus was not just for the people in one place, but for all people.
Child: Matthew 2:1-2: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.’”
Child: Matthew 2:10-11: “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Child: God used a star to guide the wise men to Jesus.
Parent: God has guided us to the true meaning of Christmas during Advent. God has come into the world in Jesus Christ to be with us so that we will experience God’s hope, joy, love, and peace.
Parent (Prayer): Thank you, God, for your Son, Jesus. Thank you for sending Jesus for all people. On this Christmas Day, help us remember and rejoice again because Jesus was born. Help us live every day remembering your love and care and showing that love and care to others. AMEN.
Discussion:
● Why is it important that Jesus came into the world?
● How should this cause us to treat other people?
1 Laura Richie, “How to Lead Your Kids’ Ministry Through a Beautiful Advent,” Ministry Spark, updated April 20, 2021, https://ministryspark.com/ advent-in-kids-ministry/
2 Shawna Murlin, “5 Ways to Have Advent Conversations with Your Family,” Awana, November 22, 2021, https://www.awana.org/2021/11/22/5ways-to-have-advent-conversations-with-your-family/
3 Andrew K. Gabriel, “Advent Candle Readings for Families with Children,” Andrew K. Gabriel: Pentecostal-Charismatic Theologian, May 19, 2024, https://www.andrewkgabriel.com/2017/11/27/advent-candle-readings-families-children/
