While the season of Advent has been a staple of Christian churches for centuries, for many protestant evangelical congregations it still bears an air of the unknown. Simply stated, Advent is the season beginning on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas each year and it focuses on preparing for an appropriate celebration of Jesus’ birth. By association, it is also a time for followers of Jesus to remember His promised return. That’s really all there is to it. It’s nothing magical… just a time to reflect, remember and prepare.

In many traditions Advent is celebrated using a wreath of candles that are lit one per week with each one having its own theme. Once again we will incorporate the lighting of candles into our Advent worship at BVBC, though this year in a different way than in years past. Our Advent worship at BVBC this year will center on the themes of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. Every Sunday, beginning November 27, our corporate worship services will introduce the theme for the week in sermon and in song.

For those choosing to use this devotional guide in their private times of worship, each of these themes will be explored for the remainder of that week through the various writings and reflections contained herein. These essays are a gift to you from your church staff-- the pastors, ministers, directors and assistants. They are based around various scripture passages that highlight the theme for each week and they are intended to be both broad in scope and personal in nature.

It is our prayer that your personal worship will be enhanced throughout the 28 days of the season and that you will have a more meaningful Christmas celebration because you have taken time to prepare.

Sincerely,
John Hollan
Pastor of Worship

Contributing writers to this project include the following BVBC staff members:

Melissa Campbell, Administrative Assistant, Discipleship Office
Pathomphorn Chaosan, Middle School Ministry Associate
John-Wesley Crockett, Minister to Children
Sonya Ferguson, Administrative Assistant, Senior Pastor’s Office
John Hollan, Pastor of Worship
Jayme Lock, Director of Preschool Ministries
Jonathan Lock, High School Ministry Associate
Derrick Lynch, Senior Pastor
David Neely, Pastor of Administration and Outreach
Darrin Ray, Pastor of Discipleship
Karen Rullman, Administrative Assistant, Administration Office
Janae Shepherd, Worship Ministry Associate

Special thanks to Paige Szajnuk for editorial assistance.

The essays in this devotional series are the property of Blue Valley Baptist Church of Overland Park, Kansas, Copyright© 2011 BVBC.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the
English Standard Version of the Bible.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
All rights reserved.
ESV Text Edition: 2007