There are so many traditions, festivities, and to-do lists that seem to clutter our Christmas season. Not all of these things are bad, but sometimes we need to take time to refocus—to understand why we even do Christmas in the first place.
For many of us, the fact that we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is not lost, but are we taking the time to reflect on that not-so-simple occasion? That event is more than a Christmas Carol. It's more than a movie. It's more significant than any family gathering or meal, so consider spending a little more time this year focusing on Advent.
Advent is Jesus coming to earth (or the incarnation). Traditionally the holiday of Advent is celebrated on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. We plan to incorporate Advent into our Sunday morning services, Treehouse Kids, and Grace Youth starting this Sunday, November 28! Each Sunday, we will have an added scripture reading to focus on the four themes of Advent: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.
Additionally, we would love for you to participate at home daily. Pastor Bill and some of the staff will be reading "Come Let Us Adore Him" by Paul Tripp, a devotional focused on Advent. You can find this resource, other great ideas, videos, books, and links on the Grace Church website. We hope you can find some ideas to help usher you and your family into the holiday season with Jesus first.