It's a new year in the Christian calendar, and many families have begun to find value in the old tradition of Advent.

Advent is the first season of the Christian calendar and begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day. The word advent means "arrival," or "an appearing or coming into place." It's a season marked by waiting and celebration; looking back to Christ's first arrival and looking forward to his return.

Each Sunday of the season tends to focus on one of four alternating elements: hope, peace, joy, and love. Advent wreaths are often used as well, with candles being lit each week.

We've gathered some available resources so your family can participate through Advent as well.

Advent Reader 2019

Canadian Baptists of Western Canada publishes a daily Advent reader. You can access 2019's digital copy, as well as download, from here.

Advent of Reconciliation

Canadian Baptist Ministries has worked on a special 'Advent of Reconciliation' this year. 

"In anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, Cheryl Bear has prepared a special Advent resource for you and your church to use. This year, we celebrate this sacred season from the perspective of Indigenous peoples through 'Advent of Reconciliation.' Let us, as a Canadian Baptist church family, come together to champion restoration as children of God who have been reconciled to Him."

You can access it here.

#AdventWord

AdventWord is described as a global online Advent calendar. “It is so easy in the noise of December to lose sight of the privilege of waiting for the arrival of the Christ Child," says the Very Reverend, Ian Markham, Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary. "This brilliant idea invites us all to pause every day of Advent – to pray, think, and respond. The beauty in the response is a calendar that will be shared with others.”

You can access it here.

We Will Wait

We Will Wait: An Advent Devotional Guide is written by Heather Boersma. The guide comes with not only readings for Advent, but also printable artwork that you can put up in your home for the Advent season. The book is only $4.99 and can be purchased and downloaded here.

An easy Advent wreath

If you don't have an Advent wreath, really all you need are five candles; four around the ring and one in the centre. Typically, there are three purple and one pink candle that forms the ring, and then one white in the centre. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday, and the white is lit on Christmas Eve.

The Jesse Tree

A Jesse Tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories on Jesus’s family tree. Each day of Advent, read a Bible story about someone on Jesus’s family tree and hang an ornament symbolizing the story on your Jesse Tree. As you decorate your tree, you’ll see how God prepared for Jesus to be born through many generations.

You can access it here.

Family devotions

Focus on the Family offers a free family Advent resource for each Sunday in the season. It includes Scripture, devotions, and more.

You can access it here.