Yes, Advent is indeed *thisclose*

four ways to not let Advent pass you by this year

That happened fast.

Here we are, perched on the brink of Advent, the beginning of the church year.

Compare the start of church year with the start of the civil calendar and some important differences emerge.

There are no fireworks or resolutions or parties. Instead there’s waiting.

There are no plans for self-improvement. Instead there is contemplation on God’s in-breaking action.

Advent dislodges us from the center of the story — healing us of “main character syndrome” as the Gen Z’ers might say — and calling into a posture of reception: we look backward and look forward to God’s action in Jesus. Our gaze is set on God’s action then, now, and very soon.

I dive into the three comings of Advent in Rhythms of Faith, so consider journeying through the season accompanied by my book. But I also want to offer a few low effort, high impact ways to tune your mind and heart toward Christ in this season.

1. Befriend this prayer daily

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (BCP 2019)

Based on Romans 13:12, this prayer is the entry point to Advent, serving as the collect prayer for the first Sunday of the season in the Anglican tradition. Penned by Thomas Cranmer, this prayer was prayed daily in Advent in the 1662 prayerbook. All that to say: you’re hard-pressed to find a richer prayer than this. It’s Advent to the max: first and second coming, martial imagery, judgement and salvation. You can’t pray this daily and not be, in some way, transformed.

2. Engage with Tamara Hill Murphy’s Advent and Christmas Daybook

Tamara Hill Murphy’s substack, Restful, is one of the best around — contemplative, intentional, and refreshing. If ever there was a year we needed guidance through an intentional rhythm of Scripture, prayer, and art to steady our hearts and strengthen our hope, this is the year, and Tamara is a faithful guide.

I love the way she describes the season and her daybook:

Advent offers us a faithful way to come to Jesus for rest—quietly, daily, simply. Each day includes the lectionary readings, art, music, prayer, and a simple practice to help us notice God’s presence in these waiting days. It’s a way to pay attention to Christ’s three arrivals—then, now, and still to come—and to walk through December with a quieter soul and a sturdier hope.

I’ve got a 50% off code for Tamara’s Advent and Christmas Daybook, which features portions of Rhythms of Faith. Sign up or gift it to a friend who needs some tangible soul rest.

Advent is the time when God breaks in on us with new surprises and touches us with a
renewing and restoring power.
—­ Robert Webber, Ancient-­ Future Time

3 . Prioritize Sunday Worship
Christian worship shines especially in seasons like Advent. The colors, the themes, the prayers, the music. Pray for God to work in power as you worship in this season. Come prayed up and expectant. The heart of our spiritual life is gathering as Christ’s body to encounter God through Word and Table. Do everything you can to not miss it.

Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash

4. Advent Stacking
Lean into the mode and mood of Advent with others and in multiple facets of your life. Get out the Advent wreath and light a candle. Turn off the usual podcasts and replace them with Advent music. If you’re a reader, pick up a novel with Advent themes (got you covered here). Do the same with your streaming, though, let’s be real, turning down the media intake is a wise move for the season. The main thing here is intentionality: how can you receive this season as gift rather than watching it zoom past, waking up on Dec 24, and wondering, “how did I get here?”

On the journey with you,
Claude