Advent Devotional: Making Space for Christ

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The 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 November 27th. 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, the Pearl community is exploring how to Make Space for Christ. Just as the old Christmas hymn proclaims, “Let every heart prepare him room!” As we draw near to the Feast of the Incarnation, the songs we sing in this season stir up our longing to experience the peaceful presence of God-with-us. This Advent, our Sunday sermons will explore four ancient practices, which help us awaken to the Divine who is pleased to dwell among us. By reconsidering rest, prayer, fasting and forgiveness, this series aims to hold up wise ways of making space for Christ in the goodness of our ordinary days.

This weekly Advent devotional includes liturgies and practices for families, friends, housemates and individuals to engage throughout this Advent season and make space for Christ in the texture of daily life. 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: