Advent 2024

Begins December 1

In the midst of the busyness during the holidays, it is easy to skip ahead to Christmas.  Our Advent theme – O Come, Emmanuel – reminds us to set aside time on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights to light the Advent candles and reflect on our need for a Savior. Join us for these special services as we use The Great Antiphons (the basis of the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel) to help us prepare the way of the Lord. Singing this ancient Advent prayer helps us count down to the coming of Christ at Christmas by using the names of Jesus prophesied in the Hebrew scriptures. As we sing at each service, we reveal a secret phrase hidden in the lyrics – a message from the Christ child himself!

Advent Worship Services

Each antiphon is a name of Christ, mentioned in Scripture.

Sunday, December 1: O Sapientia (O Wisdom) Isaiah 11:2-3
>Worship at 9am & 11am (livestream)

Wednesday, December 04: O Adonai (O Lord) Isaiah 11:4-5, 33:22
>Worship at 7pm (dinner begins at 5:45pm)

Sunday, December 08: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) Isaiah 11:1, 10
>Worship at 9am & 11am (livestream)

Wednesday, December 11: O Clavis David  (O Key of David) Isaiah 9:7, 22:22
>Worship at 7pm (dinner begins at 5:45pm)

Sunday, December 15: O Oriens (O Dayspring) Isaiah 9:2
>One Worship service at 10am Lessons & Carols (livestream)

Wednesday, December 18: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations) Isaiah 9:6, 2:4
>Worship at 7pm (dinner begins at 5:45pm)

Sunday, December 22: O Emmanuel   (O With Us is God)     Isaiah 7:14
>Worship at 9am & 11am (livestream)

Click HERE to view our full schedule of Advent & Christmas events

Advent Devotions

There are three options for your Advent devotion this year. Pick one or all three. They are located in the Narthex.

Children’s Devotion

It’s time for Advent—time to pray, time to prepare, time to count the days until the Savior arrives! Throughout the season we will sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” to help us prepare for Jesus’ birth. Each day of the season, press out the numbered circles on the easy-to-assemble Advent wreath. Move the Mary and Joseph figures along the swirling path, closer and closer to the center of the wreath, and closer and closer to Christmas Day when God-with-us arrives! On December 25, it’s finally time. Jesus is added to the Advent scene as we celebrate the day of his birth in Bethlehem and give thanks that he is indeed with us always. A devotional booklet for parents to read with their children accompanies the craft.

Adult Devotion

”O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is perhaps the most well-known Advent song. Within its 8 verses are numerous names for the Christ child, including Emmanuel. St. Matthew announces the birth of this child to Joseph and the world with these words: “All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means, ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:22-23). As we sing these lyrics, we are asking Jesus to be with us once again. In this devotion, the writing of renowned theologian Henri Nouwen accompany scripture and prayer to help us relish Advent instead of rushing ahead to Christmas. With depth and intimacy, Nouwen invites us into deeper connection with this God-with-us.

Family Devotion

Each Sunday and Wednesday service during Advent (Dec. 1 – 22), we will reveal the next letter in the secret phrase. Find the matching card in your box then read the scripture, say the prayer, and sing the verse from O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as a family. Fold and hang the card on a string across your mantle (backwards!). Watch the short video above as a guide. The letters will slowly spell out a secret phrase that we will reveal on Christmas Eve!

Order a Christmas Poinsettia HERE