Preparing for Christ’s arrival

This year at BCC Youth, we are also doing a new series at Fusion on Advent, based from a number of Lectionary studies and advent devotions.

What I appreciate so much about Advent is the rich and vast history of it in the Christian church.  When we celebrate Advent we are tapping into a long line of believers and church history.  Additionally, millions of Christians around the world and across denominational lines join together in preparing hearts for Christ’s arrival.  It joins Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic Christians together in anticipation and celebration on what should unite us all….Jesus Christ.

In the busyness and chaos of the holiday season, I find myself more and more in need of reflection and solitude.  Advent readings help me focus on why Christ came and to prepare my own heart daily for his arrival and presence.

So often I would wait until the day before Christmas, when all the buying and wrapping and parties were over to really slow down and focus on what really matters-why we celebrate Christmas.

Advent provides time and space each day (or least on the Sunday leading up to Christmas) to do this

We are encouraging our teens this year through a number of ways.

Here is what we have planned this Advent season, to help all of us prepare the way for Christ in our minds, hearts and lives and to truly focus on the Reason for the Season

1)  We are doing a 4-part series on Advent:  Hope, The Way, Joy, and Peace

2) We have an advent calendar in our youth room

3) We will have an advent wreath and lighting of a candle for each week

4) We will have a nativity scene, without the Christ child, and will place him in the manger after our Christmas Eve service

5) We will give each student an Advent devotional

6)  We adopt a family in need for Christmas, purchase gifts and visit them to decorate a tree and sing carols

7)  We encourage our students to ask for one less gift or $$ instead and to support a charity, sponsor a child, or give to someone in need

8) Last year we watched the movie “The Nativity Story” during the last Sunday school before Christmas.  Might do that again  The Nativity Story

9) Each youth group will have a big Christmas party which will include the reading of the Christmas Story from the gospels, carols, prayers, given of gifts, and collection of money/gifts for families in need in our community. (and usually includes a lot of food and A Charlie Brown Christmas!)

Here are some resources we will be using to prepare for Christ’s arrival

Advent Lectionary studies from Barefoot

Magnificat Advent companion

Advent Wreath

Advent Booklet_

The First Candle (The Candle of Prophecy/Hope)

The first candle is sometimes called the candle of prophecy because it symbolizes the promises the prophets delivered as messages from God; promises that foretold Christ’s birth. Others consider the candle to be a symbol of the hope we have in Christ and so it is called the Hope candle.

The Second Candle (The Candle of the Way)

The second candle shows that Christ is the Way. Christians are lost in sin and Christ is the Light sent into the world to show them the way out of darkness.

The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy)

The third candle indicates that the only lasting Joy to be found in life on earth is through Christ. All other joy is fleeting and does not last.

The Fourth Candle (The Candle of Peace)

The fourth candle reminds that Jesus comes to bring Peace to both the world and to people’s hearts. Without Christ there is no peace in this world.

The Fifth Candle (The Christ Candle or Christmas Candle)

Operation Christmas Child

For the past few years, BCC Youth has partnered with Operation Christmas Child to help provide shoeboxes for impoverished children around the world at Christmas time.

We are committed to helping, serving, and blessing the less fortunate throughout the year and offer multiple opportunities each season (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer)

One of our favorite has always been Operation Christmas Child.  We generally have around 30-40 students participated and over 150 from our church.

In fact, this year Bedford Community Church has been chosen to be one of the distribution centers for Westchester County and our highs school youth group will be on hand on Wednesday, Nov 17th to receive and organize all incoming donations.

A shoebox is provided and our task is to fill it with small gifts to give either a boy or girl.  These boxes then get distributed all around the world, especially to children in third-world countries.

What I like about this ministry is that each of our students has the responsibility to go out and intentionally shop for another child.

Sometimes, simply giving money can be easier, but also less personal.

However, when you are going out and spending your own money to purchase toys and gifts, it takes on a whole new meaning.

We will also be joining with the Junior League of Northern Westchester to provide a complete Christmas wish list for two entire families living in our community.

These service opportunities help make the true meaning of Christmas become real and applicable to our youth group.  These moments help unite our students with a clear sense of purpose and mission and helps them realize that they too can contribute in signficant ways to promote God’s love and the hope and joy of Jesus.

Operation Christmas Child info