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Advent, which means arrival, is the season beginning four Sundays before Christmas. It celebrates the incarnation, the arrival of Jesus Christ into our world…
Advent calendars have been used for well over one hundred years to help us anticipate and understand this wonderful event. This year, because of the pandemic, we are all forced to celebrate Christmas in our homes. Yet, it will not make the holiday less significant, but rather more special! Our heart this year is to welcome Home those who will accept Jesus into their lives as Lord and Savior this Christmas season.
So we decided to theme the calendar around the setting of a Christmas table. Each day an object is placed on the table to remind us of a different aspect of the Christmas story. May we invite you not only to follow the journey on social media, but also to use the objects as topics of conversation. Perhaps you could even set a table in your own home, as a means of communicating the excitement and expectation of Advent to your family.
“The sun looks down on nothing half so good as a household laughing together over a meal.” – C.S Lewis
“Could it be true, this Bethlehem story of a Creator descending to be born on one small planet? If so, it is a story like no other.” – Philip Yancey
Become someone’s miracle by taking part in our On Angel’s Wings Project. It is so easy to bring one more family a lot of joy and gratitude to God on Christmas Eve!
“Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” – Galatians 6.10
The gingerbread house represent home | Many of us try to get home for Christmas but the story of Christmas invites everyone to come home to the Father – read John 14.23
The dove represents peace.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” – Luke 2.14
Crackers represent mystery
“Once in our world a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” – C.S. Lewis
Napkins represent service
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20.28
Candlesticks represent prayer
“The greatest tragedy in life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.” – F.B. Meyer
Candles represents light
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” – Isaiah 9.2
Glasses represent abundance
“Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality.” – Esther 1.7
Place-cards represent hospitality
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” – Matthew 25.35
Decorations represent celebration.
“I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Saviour God.” – Luke 1.46
Stars represent hope
“And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love.” – Cecil Frances Alexander
Mince Pies represent custom.
“Remotely or proximately, He is toasted in every cup of Christmas cheer. Each sprig of holly is a hint of His holiness, each cluster of mistletoe a sign He is here.” – Brennan Manning
Angels represent praise
“Hark! The herald angels sing – Glory to the newborn King.” – Charles Wesley
Fruit represent seasons
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” – Genesis 8.22
Chocolate represents love
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” – 1 John 4.11
Bread represents sacrifice
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”” – 1 Corinthians 11.23-24
A Carafe of wine represents forgiveness
“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”” – 1 Corinthians 11.25
Bells represent joy
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room
and heaven and nature sing.”
– Isaac Watts
Gifts represent grace
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9.15
The nativity scene represents incarnation
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1.14
Wild flowers represent gratitude
“What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherdI would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give Him – give my heart.”
– Christina Georgina Rossetti