Pastors and church leaders, if you are not planning to implement a daily Advent practice at your church, your people will practice Advent somewhere else. In fact, they already are. This is a significant opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. In light of that, we’d love to partner with your church for a powerful 25-Day Advent experience called Red Letter Advent.
Advent calendars have been making a significant impact in recent years, with a staggering 1738% increase in page views for beauty advent calendars in November 2023 over just 45 days. In 2022, beauty calendars accounted for 31% of all advent calendar sales, surpassing the popularity of traditional Christmas greeting cards. This trend is not limited to beauty products, as other categories, such as beer, chocolates, wine, jewelry, Lego, and hair products, have also seen a surge in popularity.
As a church, have we seized this unique opportunity to guide our congregation’s understanding of Advent amidst the growing fascination with advent calendars? We must ensure our people comprehend the true essence of Advent, not just its surface-level appeal.
Even though the average person may not be able to define Advent, it’s attracting customers by the truckloads. One of the reasons is the routine. Each day, a surprise awaits as we countdown to Christmas. It’s not a complex concept to grasp, and it’s surface-level stuff. A 25-day numbered box with perforated-edge windows to open each day and some trinkets inside is pretty simple to figure out. Things don’t have to be complicated to be catchy. But what if we could show them the depth of meaning and the essential part that Advent plays in all our lives? Not to complicate Advent, but it’s still a simple message, after all:
“For unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given.”
But let’s give Advent some grip, some stickiness. Let’s make it more than just a ten-second activity. The real meaning and intent of Advent will provide people with some real hope behind the hype.
Last year, Barna shared results from a survey asking people what their most meaningful church experience was. They overwhelmingly answered that the day-to-day mentoring and studying the practice of following Jesus meant the most.
While many pastors hope people will remember the carefully crafted sermons they spent weeks crafting or the beautiful music they rehearsed for hours and hours, Barna shows us that service and discipleship are the two most meaningful acts for a Christian. You know what that means? It means people want (and need) to be challenged to actually walk out the faith they claim to have.
Your most devoted people are looking for mentoring in discipleship, and a clear path of celebrating and practicing Advent can provide that opportunity.
It’s been proven that people’s habits are more open to change during Christmas. So,
1) if the idea of Advent is trending in our culture,
2) if people are more likely to adopt a new habit during the holidays,
3) and if discipleship is what 70% of your faithful church attendees are looking for,
It only makes sense that you go all in on celebrating Advent.
While it may seem early to plan for Advent in the summer, the Christmas season is closer than we think. In fact, in a survey with more than 200 pastors responding, 86% of those churches have their Advent plans figured out by the end of Q3, so summer is the perfect time to get your Advent plans locked in. Starting early helps you avoid the stress of last-minute planning and ensure a successful Advent season.
We have six straightforward steps to kickstart your planning process.
Without getting too preachy, Christmas belongs to Jesus. It’s not just His day; it’s His season. So before I begin planning “my” Christmas, spend time asking Jesus how I, my family, and our church can be a part of HIS Christmas. Things suddenly become much clearer and simpler when I look at Christmas that way!
Sure, the plan and theme are around the birth of Jesus and how it changes everything. But, how do you say this in a new way for this current year you are in? Sometimes, because of the busyness of the pastor’s job, picking a theme for Advent can get your leftovers. It sure has for me in the past. So, after praying, settle on a theme for the year. And, if you need help with a theme, this is why we created Red Letter Advent: 25 Days of Unboxing Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
I don’t care what size church you have, whether you are on a team ministry of 50+ people or a solo pastor, it may just be you and your secretary, or your wife, or a couple of teen interns who help you out on Sunday morning…but Advent takes a team. You need other people to help you serve. And they need it, too! Begin by making a list. Then, contact each person with a specific request. Don’t just ask them to serve on a team or committee; be specific about what you need them to do. And don’t feel like you need to pitch an easy ask. Remember: the faithful want to be challenged!
Leading up to Christmas, note what dates the four Sundays of Advent are and any other Advent-related midweek opportunities at your church. Once you have a clear plan, create graphics indicating where/when you want your people to show up or be involved. Print them off and share them in your bulletins, printed pieces, and all digital communication.
If you have a theme picked, begin your reading. This can be the part that takes months. If you don’t have time (many pastors don’t) consider choosing a resource that comes with a theme already chosen, and a library of FREE resources to go with it. Look for resources that you can use for midweek or small group opportunities, kids curriculum for Sunday mornings, graphics that pop, etc.
Lastly, get your sermons written out early. You may change them later, and that’s totally acceptable. But the more you prepare ahead of time, the better you will feel! I found in the past that writing Advent sermons was the most time-consuming of all sermons to write. Maybe it was because of the busyness of the church and family calendar or because it was too similar a theme each year. Still, I had a difficult time feeling like my material was fresh. Again, this is a significant reason that we created Red Letter Advent for you.
Whether you choose to team with our newest project or not, I pray that this Advent celebration can be powerful for your church. I hope that the fascination with Advent continues to grow, but even more importantly, that you and your people will indeed receive the gifts Jesus gives you in His birthday month.
So, what are you waiting for? Get your Advent plans settled, and breathe a little bit easier knowing that your December plans are way ahead of schedule!
You can find more info about Red Letter Advent here. You can purchase your materials here. The only way to guarantee getting in the 2025 Advent Launch Group is to order your materials early. Also, if you’d like to see an 80-page sample of this work, you can go here.
Blessings!
