Merry Advent

Mrs. E. suggested that we post on our blogs our favourite family traditions to "keep Christ in Christmas". Ok, I'm game!

I would like to suggest observing Advent as a way of keeping the holiday Christ-focused. (Ok, sidebar here: Did you wonder why my blog is called Ask a Lutheran? I am a Christian first, yes. But I am a Lutheran Christian. It is a big part of my identity. I'm aware that some of our traditions are different from much of modern Protestantism - the Quempas Celebration for example - and that I can't just assume that everybody is going to know what I'm talking about all the time. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to stop talking! It just means that sometimes I have to do a bit of explaining for those who may not be familiar...)

So, Advent. Advent is the beginning of the Church Year in the Lutheran church (and other churches who observe the traditional western church year). The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." In Advent, we look forward with longing to the coming or arrival of the Messiah. We don't just celebrate Jesus' first coming but we look towards the Second Coming as well. There's a really good article on Advent here if you are interested.

Many of the Advent traditions are centred around the "anticipation" aspect. I can't speak for others, but for me it heightens the joy of Christmas Day when it arrives. Some of the things we do:

• On each of the Sunday's in Advent, we light the candle(s) in the Advent wreath and then we have a devotion. We usually do it in the eveing after dinner. Now that the kids are older, we get them involved with the lighting of the candle, reading the Scriptures/devotion and leading in prayer.

• On the Saturday before Advent begins (today!) we put up our Christmas tree and decorate the house.

• I bake steadily throughout the month leading up to Christmas. Just a couple batches at a time, a couple of times through out the week. It is part of the "getting ready" ritual for me, not at all a chore, but something I really enjoy.

• I play Christmas music all the time during Advent! "Advent music" is harder to come by, lol! You may be familiar with O Come, O Come Emmanuel. This one goes back to the 12th century and is beautiful in both words and melody. It was originally part of the liturgy for Advent but now is sung as a hymn.

• Even the wrapping of Christmas gifts is part of the "getting ready" ritual for me, something my husband and I do together in the evening after the kids have gone to bed.

Now, I guess that some would argue that many of these things are not particularly "Christian" and that any non-believer could do the same. The difference is I am getting ready for Christ's coming. Lots of the things I do are just symbolic - the baking, the wrapping - but when Christmas Day finally arrives, I am prepared. I don't mean "I'm ready, I got all the tasks done". I mean I'm prepared for His arrival. In a strange way, the outward preparations have a way of inwardly preparing my heart. If you haven't read the article above that I suggested, really, go read it. This one explains WAY better than I ever could what goes on in my heart.

The big day itself rather simple, and Christ-focused. We open our gifts on Christmas Eve, so the gifts don't become the primary focus of the day. I get up and get the turkey in the oven and then we go to church. (Another sidebar: do you all go to church on Christmas Day? My in-laws, who are not Lutheran, don't even HAVE a service at their church on Christmas Day! Is that normal? I think it's weird. I'm not slagging on non-Lutherans here - there are plenty of folks at our church who fail to come on Christmas as well. But hello, what are we celebrating here?) Anyway, off to church we go, which is (I think) the best way of all to include Christ in Christmas. Go visit Him in His house and celebrate with joy the long awaited arrival! After a month of preparation, it is truly the height of my day. Then it's on home for roast beast (and lots of goodies - I baked all month, remember?) with our extended family.

Now, I need to clarify something here: I am TOTALLY prone to succumbing to the temptation of allowing the outward things take over. Have done it in the past. Still have to be on guard. Observing Advent - both in the church and in our home - helps me to keep my focus where it ought to be. You should try it!