Tools for Celebrating Advent

Written by Craig Webb, editor

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Advent means "coming." Advent has historically tied the First Advent (the coming of Christ in the manger at Bethlehem) to the Second Advent (the snatching away of the redeemed as seen in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and the coming of Christ to the earth in Rev. 1:7, 19:11-16).

Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.

This year (2008) the first Sunday of Advent is November 30 and Advent ends on Christmas' Eve, Wednesday, December 24.

• November 30 - First Sunday of Advent
• December 07 - Second Sunday of Advent
• December 14 - Third Sunday of Advent
• December 21 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Here are links to complimentary helps for celebrating advent as a church family as well as in the home. You have permission to make copies and distribute the following resources.

Advent Celebration Helps for Your Church Family
The following article will give you a basic overview of Advent and how you can celebrate is as a church family.   

• Advent: Celebrating the Coming of Christ