Make Christmas More Meaningful

Christmas is that time of year where peace seems to be in the air. It evokes images of glistening lights and roaring fires. Families spending time together. Homes decorated with trees and garland. Even the grumpiest of people seem to be in a happy mood.

But in the midst of the busyness of the season – the shopping and parties and decorating, kids programs to attend and travel plans to arrange, presents to buy and cookies to bake – it can be easy to get to Christmas and forget to take time and reflect on the true reason for the season: Jesus’ Birth.

That’s where Advent comes in.

Advent is the season starting four Sundays before Christmas marked with expectant waiting and active preparation to celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s a time to slow down, reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and take deliberate steps to infuse our lives with hope, love, joy and peace in order to better celebrate and live out the truth of Christmas.

Away in a Manger

The “Away in a Manger” book is filled with daily devotion readings, scriptures, reflection questions, artwork and poetry, broken down into the four themes of Advent: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. This book will help you slow down, focus on God and become more like Christ this season.

The Advent Experiential Calendar takes the suggested activities from “Away in a Manger” and arranges them in a calendar format to help you live out the challenge to become more like Christ this Christmas.