For the Rutledge family, 15 or so years ago we began celebrating Advent with the Advent Tree and the Advent Wreath. The tradition started with some ideas from Focus on the Family. We took those readings and made them our own over the next 2-3 years. Now, we have a month of symbols and verses that help us remember why we celebrate Christmas.
The focus is not the date, instead our desire is to remember that God was born as a baby in Bethlehem, he lived and grew up in Nazareth, he died on the cross for our sins, he was resurrected from the dead, he ascended to Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. All had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets. Christmas reminds us of the beginning, God became a man and dwelt among us.
We made the symbols as a family, adding to them each year and changing the order until we were satisfied. Now we have our sequence with symbol and verse that remains the same each year, yet each year we present and remember the symbols in a different way.
Today I start, late, a series of posts on based on our celebration of Advent. It’s actually going to be simple:
- a title – the main idea
- a verse – God’s truth for us
- a symbol – a visual aid to help us remember
- a thought – a challenge, an idea, a remembrance for the day
- a prayer – I want today to be His day
“God is with us, Emmanuel.”
Advent 1 - He was… In the beginning
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