Advent Resources

Enrich your Advent season with deeper understanding and spiritual practices from these resources.

A hope that does not disappoint.

Advent can often be one of the more overlooked seasons of our liturgical calendar, but it’s actually a vital time of expectation and preparation for our coming king Jesus. Let’s join together in readying our hearts for him this season, even as we remember that he has come, will come again, and is with us even now.

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

-Isaiah 40:3

Advent FAQs

Why is Advent the first season of the liturgical year?

With the liturgical calendar, we get to wrap our whole lives around the story of God. Advent starts us off, grounding us in eager longing for the sure coming of our King.

Why do we wait to sing Christmas songs?

Although it’s tempting to launch into Joy to the World or other Christmas favorites as soon as we turn our calendars to December, we refrain from singing them until we’ve allowed the Lord to prepare our hearts during Advent so that we can more fully enter into the joy of his coming at Christmas. Then we go for it!

What looks different in our services during Advent?

From songs to wreaths to all different sorts of colors, our service shifts in several different ways during the season to reflect our penitence as we recognize our need for Jesus and wait for his coming.

How can I participate in Advent?

Of course we participate together in worship on Sunday mornings throughout Advent, but as we focus in on readying ourselves for Jesus’s coming, we can also engage throughout the week in practices like fasting, specific devotional time, or worshipping at home with an Advent wreath.

Holy-days at Home: Advent Wreaths

During this season, many people worship at home along with the cherished tradition of the Advent wreath. There are several different interpretations of the wreath’s candles, and at Redeemer we’ve decided to follow this one—remembering our fathers and mothers in the faith who worshipped as they waited for the Messiah, too:

Week One Candle: the Patriarchs

Week Two Candle: the Prophets

Week Three Candle: John the Baptist

Week Four Candle: the Virgin Mary

A common antiphon, or call and response, for this season is: “Our King and Savior now draws near. O come let us adore him!”

We’ve filmed a series of videos showing you how a family might follow along in worship together. You can find a prayer of blessing over your wreath which can be prayed on the first night of Advent here, and other resources which you can incorporate below, including a whole Holy-Days at Home booklet.

As each of our families look a little bit different, so can our ways of worshipping during Advent, but here is just one example from Jessica Ronnevik, our Children’s Ministry Director, and her family! You can find the Advent videos below!

Staff, Clergy, & Vestry Picks

More Resources

  • Advent Sermons

    Maybe you’re looking to dive deeper into God’s Word as you prepare your heart this Advent. Check out these sermons from past Advent seasons from our preaching team here at Redeemer!

    Listen to a sermon

  • Advent Playlist

    We’ve curated a playlist of old and new hymns of waiting and expectation for the coming King. Many of these songs will be sung during our Sunday services this season.

    Listen to the playlist

  • Holy Days at Home Family Worship Booklet

    We would love for you to be able to worship at home with your friends and family throughout the season, so we have this particularly kid-friendly worship resource available for you!

    Worship at home

  • Children's Library Catalogue

    Our Redeemer Kids Library is stocked for Advent! Check out these books!

    Look at books

  • Biola's Advent Project

    Each Advent, Biola releases beautifully crafted daily devotionals with Scripture readings paired with visual art, poetry, and music. Check them out/subscribe below.

    View the devotionals