Advent 2025
Advent is historically comprised of the four-weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Advent literally means “arrival” or “coming”, and is a season intended for reflection that helps us anticipate the birth of Jesus. While many churches often associate Advent with lighting candles, Advent is more than that. It is an invitation to participate—to be shaped and formed by the presence of Jesus.
You may be familiar with these lines from the well-known song, “O Holy Night”: A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Weariness is evident around us. Ask most people to describe how they are doing, and many will reply, “I’m tired…exhausted…stressed…empty…weary.” Life is busy and there’s so much to do. The world is chaotic. Tensions are running high. We struggle with sickness and illness. Relationships are challenging. People let us down. And there always seems to be one more person with one more request.
The good news is that there is hope! The incarnation of Jesus resulted in Him physically stepping into creation, culture, and relationship. He entered into the midst of a weary world to bring redemption and restoration. He came in love and compassion to establish His peaceful reign. He brings healing and transformation. His arrival is a thrill of hope into an otherwise weary world.
This Christmas, we want to explore what incarnational living looks like for us as followers of Jesus in our families, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. How can we live like Jesus in our community? How are we encountering Jesus and living with hope? How are we bringing His light into the world? What are we doing to join Him in His work in the world?
Our desire is that this Advent season will be an opportunity for our SAC family to help point to Jesus as we are shaped by His presence in our lives. Each week of Advent provides a formative practice designed to help you reflect on what the arrival of Jesus means for you in addition to encouraging you to point a weary world to the hope found in and through Jesus.
We invite you to join us in shining the light on Jesus for the weary world!
You may be familiar with these lines from the well-known song, “O Holy Night”: A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Weariness is evident around us. Ask most people to describe how they are doing, and many will reply, “I’m tired…exhausted…stressed…empty…weary.” Life is busy and there’s so much to do. The world is chaotic. Tensions are running high. We struggle with sickness and illness. Relationships are challenging. People let us down. And there always seems to be one more person with one more request.
The good news is that there is hope! The incarnation of Jesus resulted in Him physically stepping into creation, culture, and relationship. He entered into the midst of a weary world to bring redemption and restoration. He came in love and compassion to establish His peaceful reign. He brings healing and transformation. His arrival is a thrill of hope into an otherwise weary world.
This Christmas, we want to explore what incarnational living looks like for us as followers of Jesus in our families, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. How can we live like Jesus in our community? How are we encountering Jesus and living with hope? How are we bringing His light into the world? What are we doing to join Him in His work in the world?
Our desire is that this Advent season will be an opportunity for our SAC family to help point to Jesus as we are shaped by His presence in our lives. Each week of Advent provides a formative practice designed to help you reflect on what the arrival of Jesus means for you in addition to encouraging you to point a weary world to the hope found in and through Jesus.
We invite you to join us in shining the light on Jesus for the weary world!
How to Advent:
Advent tradition in the church usually involves lighting a candle each Sunday, reading Scripture, and reflecting on the greatest gift that has been given to us, Jesus Christ. Each of the first four candles during Advent symbolizes Christ’s embodiment of hope, love, joy, and peace. The final candle—the Christ Candle—is lit on Christmas Day and is time for celebrating the arrival of Jesus.
In addition to incorporating this traditional practice into our Sunday morning worship services, we invite you to consider how you can implement the following Advent practices into your time at home, with your family, in your small groups, or with friends.
Each Advent week includes the following elements:
1. Word – Read the devotional and Scripture passages, taking time to reflect on what the arrival of Jesus means for you. If you’re feeling artistic, take some time to creatively write and colour the thematic word of the week.
2. Symbol – Light a candle to symbolize the presence of Jesus, taking time to sit in silence. If you are artistic or have young kids, encourage them to draw a candle and use that silence for reflection on the reading.
3. Prayer – Pray the provided prayer, inviting Jesus to work in you and asking Him to prepare you to respond. Pray this alone or as a family or with your small group. Consider taking time each morning to pray this prayer before you begin your day.
4. Song – Listen to a version of “O Holy Night” and take time to reflect on the line (or lines) provided, considering what they communicate about the arrival of Jesus in our weary world. How do you see the theme communicated in the song?
5. Practice – Look for a way to complete the described practice.
6. Story – Share your experience with us by filling out the form on the bottom of this page, by emailing mike@surreyalliancechurch.org or by telling one of our pastoral staff. We would love to hear your stories and celebrate what God is doing this season!
In addition to incorporating this traditional practice into our Sunday morning worship services, we invite you to consider how you can implement the following Advent practices into your time at home, with your family, in your small groups, or with friends.
Each Advent week includes the following elements:
1. Word – Read the devotional and Scripture passages, taking time to reflect on what the arrival of Jesus means for you. If you’re feeling artistic, take some time to creatively write and colour the thematic word of the week.
2. Symbol – Light a candle to symbolize the presence of Jesus, taking time to sit in silence. If you are artistic or have young kids, encourage them to draw a candle and use that silence for reflection on the reading.
3. Prayer – Pray the provided prayer, inviting Jesus to work in you and asking Him to prepare you to respond. Pray this alone or as a family or with your small group. Consider taking time each morning to pray this prayer before you begin your day.
4. Song – Listen to a version of “O Holy Night” and take time to reflect on the line (or lines) provided, considering what they communicate about the arrival of Jesus in our weary world. How do you see the theme communicated in the song?
5. Practice – Look for a way to complete the described practice.
6. Story – Share your experience with us by filling out the form on the bottom of this page, by emailing mike@surreyalliancechurch.org or by telling one of our pastoral staff. We would love to hear your stories and celebrate what God is doing this season!
