How to Observe Advent
Cccseattle December 3, 2025

HOW TO OBSERVE ADVENT

The season of Advent begins this Sunday, November 30th, and we have an incredible opportunity to tune our hearts to God in a unique way. What is Advent? Advent is a 4 week period of time in the church calendar leading up to Christmas. The word ADVENT comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming”. Adventus is the Latin translation of the Greek word Parousia, which the New Testament most often uses to refer to Jesus’ second coming. Parousia was also a word that was used to describe the coming of royalty. So, Advent is a time of preparation to receive Jesus, our King. As the old song says…”Let earth receive her King, and let every heart, prepare Him room!” During Advent we not only look back to Jesus’ first coming, but we also look forward to his second coming in glory! Advent is also associated with the emotion of yearning, or longing. Specifically yearning for God to fulfill his promises to His people, and to set right what has gone terribly wrong. To truly observe advent is to move in the exact opposite direction of what our culture encourages this time of year. Holidays are the times where we take all our longings and yearnings and we stuff them with more food, more drink, more parties, more destructive habits, more toys, more clothes, more drama, more gossip, etc., only to be left wanting when it’s all said and done. Instead we are invited by God to reflect, think deeply, practice repentance, and bold faith, and make room in our hearts for the only King who can satisfy. Perhaps you are wondering about some ways that you can observe advent. Here are several ideas and resources that we have found helpful:

  • Advent Prayer Room. This year we have for the first time secured a prayer room for the entire month of December. We are super excited about this. The room will run from 12/3-12/28. Come and experience unique time with Jesus in prayer and contemplation. For more info and all the hours click here: Advent Prayer Room Info
  • Give something up. What lent is to Easter, advent is to Christmas. Fasting has often been a practice for Christians during advent. Far too often we numb or distract ourselves from that which matters most. What are the things that distract you from reflecting on your need for Jesus? Can you give something up this month to give your soul room to breath and reflect? Examples could be some kind of food or drink, technology (social media, phone, news), etc. The idea is to give up the things that distract so we can listen to the deeper longings of our hearts and of our world that only Jesus can satisfy.
  • Do something new. Advent is about the light of Jesus coming into darkness. Is there something you can do to slow down and reflect on this past, present, and future hope in your life and the world? Is there a daily or weekly rhythm you could implement to tap into the meaning of Christ’s coming? Here are some simple ideas:
    • Advent Wreath – The Advent wreath is an age-old tradition to capture our imagination and carry us through the season. Here’s how to get started:
    • Sabbath meal by candlelight – Do something weekly that allows you to unplug and think about that which matters most. This could be done as a family, or with friends. Take time to go to some deeper places in life and reflect on your own longings and hopes for the future and what Jesus’ coming means to you.
  • Pray boldly for a difficult or dark place in your life. Where is there darkness in your life? Sadness in your life? Struggle in your life? Where are you hopeless? These are often the places we try not to think about, as it can be quite overwhelming. Advent is a time to go to these places and pray that the Lord Jesus would shine his light. It’s a time to sit in darkness and not be afraid, because we have the hope of the Light of Christ. Where is that place for you? How might you pray daily for this place in your life leading up to Christmas? It could be as simple as praying daily for your workplace, city, neighborhood, or family.
  • Lectio 365. Our friends at 24/7 prayer have an incredible daily devotional app and have tailored their readings for Advent this year: https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/
  • Lectio 365 for Families. The Lectio 365 folks have also put out an app to be used for family devotionals: https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectioforfamilies/
  • Advent Bible Reading Plans. YouVersion has some incredible daily reading plans for Advent. This would be a good way to spend your devotional time: https://www.bible.com/search/plans?q=advent
  • Advent Devotionals:

We hope these ideas are helpful. There are many other good resources, but this should help anyone get started. The prayer for our church family during this advent season is that our souls would be awakened to the wonder of the gift of God’s son. Jesus has come for us, he comes to us today by his spirit, and he is coming again. Come Lord Jesus, Come!