Advent Anticipation

On November 30 we enter into the season of Advent. I grew up in a Lutheran church so Advent anticipation is an integral part of awaiting Christ’s birth for me.

Advent marks the beginning of the church’s spiritual year. That make perfect sense  because Advent is a time of preparing one’s heart for the Christ child’s birth. During the darkest days of the year, the candle-lighting countdown of the four Sundays awaiting Jesus’s birth stands in sharp contrast to the short, often cold, days of December.

Some churches celebrate the four Sundays before Christmas Day with a wreath laid horizontally on a candle-stand at the front of the church with four purple candles and one white candle in the wreath’s center. The purple candles symbolize preparation and penance; the white candle represents the purity of Christ. With each Sunday an additional purple candle is lit, resulting in more light each week, symbolizing the coming of the Light of World. The white candle is lit either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

The tradition of Advent dates back to the Middle Ages.

Advent Anticipation of the Second Coming

Advent anticipation has an additional meaning: It’s not just about Christ’s birth but also about the anticipation of his second coming. Wrapped up in Advent we find the brokenness of the world and the need for a conquering King.

In addition to the Advent wreath, the season also is celebrated with Advent calendars that add joy and a sense of the progression through each day leading up to the climatic Christmas Day.

Some individuals choose to read an Advent devotional to focus their hearts on the Reason for the Season. Others choose to give up some pleasure (maybe chocolate or coffee) as a reminder of our need for a Savior.

However you choose to express your Advent anticipation, this is the week to begin to do so. Some options:

• Each day you can virtually watch real-life actors’ performances at Henley-on-the-Thames, by clicking on the Advent calendar here.
• Or take a look at a nativity scene with surprise chocolate shapes for each day.
• If kittens are your thing, then this calendar may be for you.

More details about Advent and how to celebrate it are in this article.

Limited time to save when you sign up for the Books & Such Virtual Writing Intensive

Speaking of calendars, Early Bird pricing goes away on December 31 for the Writing Intensive.

When friends and family ask what’s on your Christmas gift list, let them know it’s attending the virtual Writing Intensive.

The dates are February 10-12, 2026. Check out the details here.

Advent calendar image by Sabine Kroschel from Pixabay