1. Preparing for Advent

2. Course Overview Week One Week One Overview of the Christian Calendar Overview of the Christian Calendar Meaning of Advent Meaning of Advent Idea of Preparation Idea of Preparation Week Two Week Two Themes of Advent Themes of Advent Special Sundays in Advent Special Sundays in Advent Week Three Week Three Advent Projects Creative Ideas for Family Activities Week Four Week Four Preparing to Light the Christ Candle Celebrating the Coming of the Wise men - Epiphany

3. Seasons of the Christian Calendar Advent: Beginning of the Christian calendar. Advent: Beginning of the Christian calendar. Christmas: Twelve days beginning with December 25 th. 2 Sundays. Christmas: Twelve days beginning with December 25 th. 2 Sundays. Epiphany: Begins twelve days after Christmas and celebrates coming of wise men. Continues 10 Sundays. Epiphany: Begins twelve days after Christmas and celebrates coming of wise men. Continues 10 Sundays. Lent: 6 Sundays. Lent: 6 Sundays. Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday Holy Week (Passion) Holy Week (Passion) Palm Sunday Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Good Friday Easter: 8 Sundays. Easter: 8 Sundays. Ascension of the Lord Ascension of the Lord Pentecost (Last Sunday of Easter) Pentecost (Last Sunday of Easter) Ordinary Time: 22 Sundays. Ordinary Time: 22 Sundays. Advent: Begins fourth Sunday before Christmas. Advent: Begins fourth Sunday before Christmas.

4. The Meaning of Advent Dictionary Definition: A Coming or Arrival. Dictionary Definition: A Coming or Arrival. Rooted in the Hebrew Concept of Messiah Rooted in the Hebrew Concept of Messiah The Story of Israel The Story of Israel Psalm 137 Psalm 137 Jeremiah 31:23ff Jeremiah 31:23ff Savior/Redeemer Figure Savior/Redeemer Figure Isaiah 9:1-7 Isaiah 9:1-7 Jeremiah 23:5-6 Jeremiah 23:5-6 A Well Developed Eschatology A Well Developed Eschatology Matthew 2:6 Matthew 2:6

5. O Come O Come Emmanuel O Come O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here before the Son of God appear. O Come O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here before the Son of God appear. O Come, Thou Day Spring, come and cheer, our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the clouds of night, and deaths dark shadows put to flight. O Come, Thou Day Spring, come and cheer, our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the clouds of night, and deaths dark shadows put to flight. O Come, Desire of nations, bind, All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease. Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. O Come, Desire of nations, bind, All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease. Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. CHORUS: Rejoice, Rejoice, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel. CHORUS: Rejoice, Rejoice, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel.

6. Preparing the Way A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40: 3 Isaiah 40: 3 How does your family prepare for Christmas? How does your family prepare for Christmas? How does your family prepare for Advent? How does your family prepare for Advent? How do you prepare yourself daily for the arrival of the Christ child? How do you prepare yourself daily for the arrival of the Christ child?

7. Weekly Themes in Advent Week One: Hope Week One: Hope Week Two: Peace Week Two: Peace Week Three: Joy Week Three: Joy Week Four: Love Week Four: Love

8. Week One The Candle of Hope The Candle of Hope Isaiah 9:2 Isaiah 9:2 O Come O Come, Immanuel O Come O Come, Immanuel O Come, O Come, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here. Before the Son of God appear. Rejoice, Rejoice! Immanuel. Shall come to thee O Israel. O Come, O Come, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here. Before the Son of God appear. Rejoice, Rejoice! Immanuel. Shall come to thee O Israel. What other themes/verses of hope in Scripture can you identify? What other themes/verses of hope in Scripture can you identify?

9. Week Two The Candle of Peace The Candle of Peace Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 9:6-7 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear It Came Upon a Midnight Clear It came upon a midnight clear. That glorious song of old. From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold. Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all gracious king. The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing. It came upon a midnight clear. That glorious song of old. From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold. Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all gracious king. The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing. What other themes/verses of peace in Scripture can you identify? What other themes/verses of peace in Scripture can you identify?

10. Week Three The Candle of Joy The Candle of Joy Luke 2:8-11 Luke 2:8-11 Joy to the World Joy to the World Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and heaven and nature sing. What other themes/verses of joy can you identify in Scripture? What other themes/verses of joy can you identify in Scripture?

11. Week Four The Candle of Love The Candle of Love John 3:16 John 3:16 Love Came Down at Christmas (109 BH) Love Came Down at Christmas (109 BH) Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine. Love was born at Christmas. Star and angel gave the sign. Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine. Love was born at Christmas. Star and angel gave the sign. What other themes/verses of love can you identify in Scripture? What other themes/verses of love can you identify in Scripture?

12. O Come O Come Emmanuel O Come O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here before the Son of God appear. O Come O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. That mourns in lonely exile here before the Son of God appear. O Come, Thou Day Spring, come and cheer, our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the clouds of night, and deaths dark shadows put to flight. O Come, Thou Day Spring, come and cheer, our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the clouds of night, and deaths dark shadows put to flight. O Come, Desire of nations, bind, All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease. Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. O Come, Desire of nations, bind, All peoples in one heart and mind; Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease. Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. CHORUS: Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel. CHORUS: Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel.

13. Discussion Questions How has your family “paid attention” to Advent in the past? How has your family “paid attention” to Advent in the past? What is your favorite part of Advent? (Candles, singing, devoting, fellowship, sermons, personal reflection, etc.) Why? What is your favorite part of Advent? (Candles, singing, devoting, fellowship, sermons, personal reflection, etc.) Why? The Israelites were waiting for a Messiah to release them from bondage. How does the story of Israel, awaiting a Messiah, parallel our own spiritual condition, then and now? How is Israel’s story the story of every person on earth? The Israelites were waiting for a Messiah to release them from bondage. How does the story of Israel, awaiting a Messiah, parallel our own spiritual condition, then and now? How is Israel’s story the story of every person on earth?

14. A Quick Primer on Epiphany What’s coming next? What’s coming next? Christmas - Twelve Days Christmas - Twelve Days Epiphany - Two weeks Epiphany - Two weeks Meaning of “Epiphany”: The manifestation of a divine nature. God in the flesh. John 1:1ff Meaning of “Epiphany”: The manifestation of a divine nature. God in the flesh. John 1:1ff Traditional Epiphany Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 Traditional Epiphany Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 Legends of Epiphany Legends of Epiphany Wise Men, the Age of Jesus, and the Biblical Testimony Wise Men, the Age of Jesus, and the Biblical Testimony The Point of Epiphany The Point of Epiphany You Can Never Be the Same You Can Never Be the Same What Gift Will You Bring? What Gift Will You Bring?

15. A Prayer for Advent Your face is shining on us, O God, in the young woman who is with child. She will bear a son and name him Emmanuel, “God with us.” Your presence shall thereafter be a source of comfort and guidance to all that call on your name. Your footsteps will accompany us, your breath will give us new life, your arms will console us, and your hands will be there to welcome us home. You are a God for all seasons and give us all reason to worship you. The advent of our Salvation is near. Come Lord Jesus. Your face is shining on us, O God, in the young woman who is with child. She will bear a son and name him Emmanuel, “God with us.” Your presence shall thereafter be a source of comfort and guidance to all that call on your name. Your footsteps will accompany us, your breath will give us new life, your arms will console us, and your hands will be there to welcome us home. You are a God for all seasons and give us all reason to worship you. The advent of our Salvation is near. Come Lord Jesus.