How can we best worship God at Advent?
By focusing on God.
Or Jesus.
Or even the Holy Spirit.
That may be why Advent –as opposed to the Christmas season–can be a simpler and joyful time.
Our focus–in music, readings, candles, services–is on God, rather than . . . things.
Who was God at Advent?
Liturgical churches, Christian churches that follow a set pattern of worship rituals in the services, are the ones most likely to refer to the Christian season as Advent.
The word comes from the Latin adventus, “coming or arrival,” which naturally would refer to Jesus’ birth.
Advent anticipates three events:
- The celebration of Christ’s birth this year.
- His resurrection celebration in Easter next year.
- His promise to return–anytime.
In my Lutheran church, Advent means singing Christian hymns focused on the story of Jesus’ birth–anticipation, arrival, praise, and then the wise men arrive bearing gifts at Epiphany.
We celebrate them all.
God sent His son to be born into the world.
We choose to celebrate the event on December 25, but of course, no one knows the real date of Jesus’ birth.
The Holy Spirit at Advent
How do we worship God at Advent in the form of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is part of the trinity and He played an integral role in the nativity.
When Mary, an unmarried woman, asked the Angel Gabriel how she could become the mother of God, he had an answer:
The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1: 35-36 NKJV
Mary accepted that answer, submitting her life to God through the Holy Spirit’s work.
(What would she have known about the Holy Spirit? She would have known references to God’s spirit from Numbers and King David himself among other places.
(Numbers 11:29–Moses says “Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!
(David in Psalm 51:11 begs God, “Do not cast me away from Your presence. And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”)
Jesus at Advent
Well, obviously, Advent’s awaiting is for Jesus.
Our church celebrates the Sundays of Advent by lighting candles: those focused on the coming hope, peace, joy, and love
He’s the reason for the season and we celebrate his arrival with music–like Handel’s Messiah.
Including the classic announcing Jesus’ birth:
Here’s a page full of Jesus-related Advent hymns.
Many of the best-loved Christmas carols soar on this theme: O Holy Night; Away in a Manger, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.
Focusing on God at Advent
For many of us, focusing on God at Advent is a challenge. The busy Christmas season beckons us away from spiritual reflection on the marvel who is coming.
That can rob us of what’s truly important about this annual remembrance.
God living with us is coming.
We’re not alone to walk in darkness any longer. The Messiah, the Savior of the world came.
We’re just remembering.
Fortunately, we have examples all through the Bible–particularly in the Advent stories–about how other people celebrated whatever year Jesus was born.
From them, we can learn what it means to worship God at Advent by our actions, words, gifts, and even our dreams.
Christ the newborn King is coming soon.
Thanks be to God.
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