What are the Seasons of Advent and Christmas?

Advent is a four-week period in which the church around the world looks back to Jesus' first coming as our Savior, and looks forward to his second coming as our Judge. It is a time in which we encourage each other to be ready for Jesus' coming again, when he will fulfill God's promises and renew all things. In this season, we wait and prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

Christmas is a twelve-day period in which the church rejoices in the Incarnation of Jesus and the fulfillment of Advent promises. The long-awaited Messiah has come; the light of the world has been born! We rejoice in Emmanuel, God with us.

Resources for Advent & Christmas

Scripture and Prayer Guides

• CCD Advent & Christmas Guide for 2023 |  A prayer guide for the season modeled around the lectionary texts
• Weekly Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, Year B

Reflections on Advent

• Advent: The Season of Hope, by Tish Harrison Warren
• Honest Advent by Scott Erickson  |  A book of illustrations and meditations designed to illuminate the hope and wonder of God-with-Us.
• "Advent" by Christina Rossetti
• "Advent (On a Theme by Dietrich Bonhoeffer)" by Pamela Cranston
• "How NT Wright Stole Christmas" by Peter Leithart
• "The Shaking Reality of Advent" by Alfred Delp

Music

• Christmas by Castle Island Hymns (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music)
• Songs of Longing, Vol. 1 (Advent) by Christ Church East Bay (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music)
• Waiting Songs by Rain for Roots (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music)
• "He Has Done Great Things (Magnificat)" by Christ Church East Bay (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music)
• "The Lord Has Come To Dwell" by Philip Majorins (SoundCloud)
• "Wait for the Lord" by Taizé (Spotify, Apple Music)
• A Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Soundtrack playlist (Spotify)

Activities for the Whole Family

• Teach Us to Pray: Advent by Lora A. Copley and Elizabeth Vander Hagen | A daily prayer book guiding families in listening to and speaking to God through songs, Scripture readings, action, and contemplation.
• Jesse Tree  |  A Jesse tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories of people in Jesus' family tree, recognizing how God prepared for Jesus' birth through many generations.
  • Devotional Guide
  • Ornaments (Color, Black and White)
• Christmas Crafts and Coloring Pages from Tiny Truth Bible
• Advent & Christmas Activity Sheet