Advent for the Family
Slowing Down, Looking Up: The Gift of Family Time at the Start of the Church Year
As the world around us begins its mad dash toward December 25, shopping days, shipping deadlines, full calendars, and flashing advertisements, St. Peter's along with the capital "C" Church, quietly begins something entirely different. While the culture sprints toward Christmas, the Church begins the new year not in a frenzy, but in Advent, a season of waiting, watching, and resting in the promises of God.
For us as Lutherans, Advent is not simply a countdown; it is a return to rhythm. The Church Year begins not with noise, but with longing; not with busyness, but with hope. It is a beautiful invitation to take a breath, to slow our pace, and to remember that Christ is the One who orders our days, our families, and our future.
In this season, the Christian home becomes an extension of the things we learn at church. Families gather around wreaths and candles, around Scripture and prayer, around tables and conversations. These small shared moments, often unnoticed by the world, form the faithful heartbeat of Christian life. Parents teach little ones (and remind older children) what it means to wait on the Lord. Children remind adults of the joy found in simple traditions. Households, in all their shapes and sizes, turn together toward the coming Savior.
But slowing down does not mean withdrawing or isolating ourselves. Advent invites us into community, into life with the Body of Christ. In a world that is constantly pulling families in a hundred different directions, the Church offers a place where we can remember that we do not walk this journey alone. We wait together. We hope together. We rejoice together.
That is why events like our Advent Family Fun Night are such a blessing. On Saturday, December 6 from 6–8 pm in the Cornerstone Room and main gym, our Family Life Team is hosting an evening designed to gather our church family of all ages around joy, fellowship, and the simple delight of being together.
Children can snuggle into a cozy movie corner, wrapped in blankets and wearing their favorite Christmas pajamas. Wear your PJs to church for Saturday's worship. Families can enjoy hot cocoa, popcorn, and cookies while catching up with friends. Laughter will fill the gym, and there’s even a “rumor” of a safe and silly indoor snowball fight for the kids (and anyone who still feels like one).
For grown-ups, the Large Conference room will be available to sneak in gifts and get them wrapped without prying eyes. In fact, if you are one of our Angel Tree givers, feel free to bring your unwrapped gift with you too. You can wrap it that evening and place it under the tree before heading home—one more joyful reminder of Christ’s love shared with others.
As we begin another Church Year, may this season help us reclaim what the world so often steals: time with our families, time with our church, time in God’s Word, and time to remember that Christ meets us not in the frantic rush, but in the quiet promise, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
May your Advent be filled with moments of peace, wonder, and joyful anticipation as we prepare our hearts for our coming King.
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