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Harding Academy Advent 2019

On December 25, people around the world will celebrate the birth and arrival of Jesus. The magnitude of that celebration is often lost in the hustle and bustle of wrapping paper and gingerbread men. The word advent means “arrival,” and this season is all about anticipating the arrival of the Messiah. Advent is an opportunity for us to refocus our hearts and minds on our coming Lord.

The story of Jesus’ birth is one that many of us have heard over and over from the time we were very young. As a result of our familiarity, we sometimes lose sight of the truly miraculous nature of the nativity. At His birth, Jesus was surrounded by surprising characters and unlikely heralds. Daniel Darling, author of The Characters of Christmas, invites us to consider the cast of Jesus’ birth story “not because their lives are the point of the story, but because their lives, like our own, point ultimately to the one character whose birth changed the world: Jesus Christ” (11).

If your family doesn’t already have an advent tradition, we hope this will be a helpful guide to use for the ten days leading up to Christmas Day (December 16-25). Each day has a scripture, a quote to read together, and a way to think deeper about that character. There are many ways for your family to use this guide. We recommend that you read the guide together each day, taking turns reading each part. Make this a focused family time— no phones, no TV, no distractions.

If you would like any additional resources for this activity, the quotes in this guide come from The Characters of Christmas by Daniel Darling.

Our prayer is that these ten days will fill your homes with hope, joy, peace, and love. Merry Christmas to you all!

-Seth and Jenna King Harding Academy Campus Ministry

Click the image below to access our 2019 Advent Guide.