It is an evening for women to get together, generally the first Monday after Thanksgiving, to allow us to focus our hearts and minds on the actual meaning of the advent season: the coming of our Lord and King. This season is to remember His first coming, through birth, and to enable us to prepare for His second coming.
Personally, I think the Advent season is more and more left out and the Christmas season is brought on early and rushed through. (Seeing as the "Christmas season" actually starts with Christmas Eve and should go through the new year into Epiphany. Does anyone still celebrate the 12 days of Christmas or the journey of the wise men? Although, this is a topic for another time or post later, so I digress.)
December is always full of Christmas gatherings and "must-do" activities that end up feeling more like obligatory time consumption rather than enjoyable moments filled with the spirit of the season. We have been streaming down our own family's extra obligations in December over the past few years, and I think it helps. This being said, I enjoy this event and will probably continue to participate for now.
I never seem to remember to take pictures of the event or my table on these evenings. Each year there is a a different theme and that inspires table decorations. This past year's theme was Awaiting the Wonder, based on the nativity. Constance Denniger was the guest speaker, and she was able to get a few pictures and post them on her blog. My Precious Moments Nativity, given to me Christmas 2012, and the German Pyramid, my husband and I picked up in Germany in 2008, are included in her post. Please check it out: Constance Denninger's blog post.
Part of my reason for loving this evening so much is the memories of my childhood. When I was a child, my family would attend the candlelight service on Christmas Eve every year, generally at our church Peace Lutheran. Singing Silent Night by candlelight always reminds me of the happiness and family togetherness we had. It has always given me a sense of calmness and comfort. After church, it was always a treat to get to open one present that my Maw Maw had already wrapped and placed under our tree. My "uncle" Dennis was generally always a part of my memory too. Our present was always new pajamas. Remembering these things makes me happy.
I had always wanted my own children to have these same memories to be able to look back on fondly. However, their memories will be different, but just as wonderful. While we do not attend church service on Christmas Eve, we do have a tradition, as has been with my husband's family for years, of gathering together and celebrating that evening together. (Among other family gatherings also.) While, Silent Night by candlelight may not trigger their memories for this time of year, as it does for me, we are still making memories. But, one reason I enjoy the Advent by Candlelight event is that I get to sing Silent Night by candlelight. And happy memories are a great way to prepare for the season ahead. Besides, God's Grace should make us all happy.
And here is a picture... the kids playing with their Little People nativity set and the Advent book tradition we started. There are 24 wrapped (from our home library) Christmas and winter books. Each day the star of our advent calendar tree, hanging there, gets moved and one book gets opened and read. They also get chocolate advent calendars too.
