A Good Primer on Celebrating Advent
I’ve been a pastor for over twenty years in primarily non-liturgical settings. In recent years I’ve become more interested in celebrating Holy Days by using some of the traditions of different denominations to enhance my personal worship of the Lord Jesus Christ (and corporate worship as well). This little book offers a good case for, and practical suggestions of how to enhance one’s worship of the coming of Christ as we celebrate the Christmas and Advent season.
Dr. Robert’s concern isn’t necessarily the various methods of how we celebrate Advent, but he argues that the main point of Advent is, “growing into a deeper, truer relationship with God. It’s sharing our yearning and hope with our community of faith. It’s getting in touch with our need for a Savior and our yearning for the kingdom of God. In Advent, by putting ourselves in the place of those who centuries ago, longed for a Messiah to set them free, we get our hearts ready to be renewed by the good news of Christmas: ‘Joy to the world, the Lord has come!’”
Mark Roberts includes the explanations of some traditions to enhance and appreciate Advent and Christmas, as well as various resources and liturgies to enhance your worship with prayers, Scripture readings, and songs. I like the tenure of this little book – he’s not dogmatic and doesn’t take anything away from whatever traditions we already celebrate – he simply gives some good reasons for and ideas of how we can enhance our celebration of Christ during December and the beginning of January.
LifeCoach4God 