Community Leader Introduction:

Advent is a season that as a church we get to mark as different from all other times of the year. These experiences are just suggestions. If they don’t work for your Community, the encouragement is to be creative on how you can experience the Advent season in a new way. 

Before Community this month, you will need:

-Candle (Advent candles or any candle)

-Incense

-Speaker (or a way to play music for the whole group)

-TV or large screen for projector

-Dessert to bake during community

Other ideas for Advent with Community:

-Read the storybook bible if you have kids in your group

-Use a countdown to Christmas with kids

-Have chocolate or a special drink that is only consumed during December

-Watch a full episode of The Chosen

-Go to the Grotto

Week 1 Community Practice:

Light a Candle

Light Incense

Read Liturgy Out Loud

“Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” Book of Common Prayer

Begin with prayer

Gather together as a Community. Spend a moment in silence, in the presence of Jesus and each other. Pray to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together. Pray to mark the first community gathering of Advent together.

Debrief the most recent teaching

  • What did you take away from the teaching, and what has God been doing in your life this past week because of it?
  • How does this teaching meet you after spending several weeks of teaching on God’s love? How are God’s love and the season of Advent connected? 
  • What have your past experiences of Advent been? How are you coming into this season of Advent (e.g. tired, weary, excited, joyful, etc.)? How are you observing Advent this year?

Listen

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – John Van Deusen Discussion

  • What area of your life are you waiting for redemption? 
  • Do you find it easy or hard to trust the Father with it? Why do you think that is?
  • How often do you think about what life before Christ was like? How often do you think towards the return of Christ?