Three weeks and two days before Christmas and the
heated discussion among my four children is not
about which video games they want for Christmas
but whose turn it is to light the candle at family
Advent.
It’s the first week of Advent season, the
observance of the four weeks preceding Christmas, a
tradition started in the Middle Ages. My kids want to
make sure they each have a part in the celebration.
Advent readings
The length of the Advent season depends on which
day of the week Christmas falls on. This schedule
includes all possible 28 days of Advent. For shorter
seasons adjust this schedule by doubling up on some
readings or eliminating the final two readings, which
record events after Christ’s birth.
First Week
Sunday – Isaiah 40:1-5; Monday – Isaiah 52:7-10; Tuesday – Isaiah 40:9-11; Wednesday – Genesis 3:8-15; Thursday – Genesis 15:1-6; Friday – Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Saturday. Psalms 89:1-4
Second Week
Sunday – Isaiah 11:1-10; Monday – Zechariah 6:12-13; Tuesday – Micah 5:2-4; Wednesday – Malachi 3:1-6; Thursday – John 1:1-8; Friday – John 1:9-18; Saturday – Mk. 1:1-3
Third Week
Sunday – Luke 1:5-13; Monday – Luke 1:14-17; Tuesday – Luke 1:18-25; Wednesday – Luke 1:39-45; Thursday – Luke 1:46-56; Friday – Luke 1:57-66; Saturday – Luke 1:67-80
Fourth Week
Sunday – Isaiah 7:10-14; Monday – Luke 1:26-35; Tuesday Isaiah 9:2-7; Wednesday – Matthew 1:18-25; Thursday – Luke 2:1-20; Friday – Matthew 2:1-2; Saturday Luke 2:21-35
More than any other activity, Advent can restore Jesus
to the center of the Christmas celebration, because on
each Advent day the birth of Jesus is read, sung and
talked about. The whole family can participate and
find the observance meaningful. The props are simple
and inexpensive. The memories and training will last
a lifetime. Although the common tenets of observing
Advent are shared by many churches, each family can
add its own flavor.
Once you sign up, the new 2018 Advent calendar will come first. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find this PDF. Then click on the icon that resembles the image on this page.
