Family Advent Devotion - Week 1

Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation anticipating the coming of Christ. We spend this time together celebrating how God came near to us in the birth of Christ. We invite you to celebrate this time with your family each Sunday as we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Preparation: Make or purchase an Advent wreath. An advent wreath contains four candles (usually purple) representing the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. A white candle can be placed in the middle representing Christ.

Week 1, Dec 1: HOPE

Reader: Today marks the first week of advent, and this week we celebrate the HOPE we have in Jesus as our Savior. (Light the first purple candle.) Jesus was the answer to a promise made long ago to God’s people. As we are in this season of waiting for Christmas to arrive, we also have HOPE as we wait for the day when Jesus returns as Lord of all.

Scipture Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Prayer: Dear God, fill our hearts with HOPE this Christmas season as we wait expectantly to celebrate the coming of Christ. May we always put our HOPE in you. Send your Spirit to remind us that You are always faithful to fulfill your promises.

Optional: Sing or listen to the song, “O Holy Night.”