Advent: Not Christmas "Lite"

Last night, St. Peter’s church had their annual service of Advent Lessons and Carols.  The choir did a phenomenal job, and I was glad I made the effort to venture back out into the cold, dark evening for a second church service.  As I was appreciating the choir’s anthems, pondering the readings, and singing the selected hymns with great pleasure, I was struck by how much rich content is missed by Christians who celebrate Advent as merely the season of “Christmas Lite.”

By “Christmas Lite,” I mean a time that focuses solely on the coming celebration of Jesus’ birthday, accompanied by the rapid unfurling of all things Christmas.  There seems to be so much pressure to deliver so much Christmas-centered content that it’s too much to fit it all in on, or even close to,  Christmas Eve. Christmas carols and anthems show up right after Thanksgiving and full-blown Christmas decorations appear in the worship space.  I’ve even heard of parishioners complaining to the pastor if the Christmas carols aren’t trotted out at the beginning of Advent.  Sadly, it’s simply a reflection of sentimental secular Christmas preparations creeping into the Church.

But that sort of Advent observance misses the whole point of the season.  Advent is not about preparing for your Christmas observances – it’s not about figuring out the best way to honor Jesus’ birthday.  Advent is about remembering who we are as the people of God, remembering the promises God made to comfort and care for His people, promises to reconcile us to Himself and make right all the things between us where we’ve gone wrong.  It’s remembering God’s promises to send a Savior, a Messiah, an Anointed One. 

And with the vision of a promised Savior freshly in mind, the birth of a baby to unremarkable parents in humble circumstances in a backwater of the Roman Empire doesn’t at first seem to fit our expectations.  Our Advent ponderings add so much depth and significance to what might otherwise become merely a poignant remembrance of a poor baby born in a stable.  Advent sets the stage for our Christmas joy at finding God work, yet again, in startling ways that fulfill our needs beyond what we could ask or imagine ourselves. 

See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
   and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
   and his recompense accompanies him. -Isaiah 40:10

May your Advent preparations serve to fill your heart with overflowing joy and wonder at the loving care and provision so unexpectedly  provided to us by our Creator, the One God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!

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Gordon Conwell Seminary is providing daily emailed Advent devotional prepared by their faculty.  It's just one of many great ways to keep yourself oriented to appropriate preparations during Advent.  Click here to go to their website and sign up.