Advent Devotional: Space to Feel

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he Church calendar begins in the darkest days of the year, with the First Sunday of Advent. Advent encompasses the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, this year beginning on December 1. During this season of longing, we intentionally cultivate space for the light of Christ in the midst of darkness. It is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to treasure up and ponder all that is possible, in Christ.

This year, our Advent sermon series, Space to Feel, will explore our emotional life. To feel, anything, is to be alive. Feelings are a central part of our humanity. Their significance is clearly attested to in the life of Jesus, the Infinite wrapped in flesh, feeling—happiness, sadness, worry, anger, despair, vulnerability, peace, amazement… Unfortunately, in comparison to thinking, western thought has minimized feelings as insignificant, disgraced them as childish, and devalued them as inferior. Because of this, many of us have inherited a tumultuous relationship with feelings. Throughout Advent, a season marked by longing, we intend to celebrate, embrace, and plumb the depths of a few consequential feelings. Our Advent hope is that, come Christmas morning, a gift is born: the incarnation of feelings in our selves, relationships, and life with God.

For each week of Advent, you’ll find readings and meditations for families, friends, housemates and individuals to engage throughout this Advent season. Whether you use the Advent Wreath candle lighting liturgies, or the meditations, or both, we hope this devotional helps you create space and meaning during this season. The weeks leading up to Christmas can be a blur of activity and frivolity, but also of family tensions, tight budgets, high expectations and stressful schedules. Making intentional space to reflect, slow down, and be prayerfully present to Christ and loved ones can help prepare our hearts to truly celebrate the gift of Christmas—God With Us, Emmanuel.

Music for Advent

You can download a song sheet with the lyrics of songs in the Advent Devotional here.

You can download MP3s of the songs referenced in the Advent Devotional here: