The Advent season offers Christian schools a unique opportunity to counter cultural holiday frenzy with meaningful spiritual preparation. At St. Paul School, we embrace this sacred time to help students focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Our intentional Advent celebrations create space for reflection, anticipation, and spiritual growth during what can otherwise become a hectic season. These traditions bind our community together while building a foundation of faith that extends far beyond December.
Understanding the Purpose and Meaning of Advent
What is Advent?
- A season of preparation and anticipation beginning four Sundays before Christmas
- The first season of the Christian liturgical year
- A time of hopeful waiting, reflecting the Old Testament anticipation of the Messiah
- An opportunity to prepare our hearts for celebrating Christ's birth
The meaning behind Advent centers on three comings of Christ:
- His historical coming as a baby in Bethlehem
- His present coming into our hearts daily
- His future coming at the end of time
Research shows that children develop a deeper understanding of sacred celebrations when they grasp the "why" behind traditions.
At St. Paul, we make these theological concepts accessible for students of all ages through age-appropriate explanations, visual symbols, and interactive experiences.
Advent Wreath Traditions in the Classroom
The Advent wreath serves as the centerpiece of our school's Advent observations, providing a visual timeline of the season.
Our Advent wreath practice includes:
|
Element |
Meaning |
Student Involvement |
|
Circle of Evergreens |
God's eternal love |
Students help create classroom wreaths |
|
Purple Candles (3) |
Preparation, repentance |
Different classes lead lighting ceremonies |
|
Pink Candle (1) |
Joy (Gaudete Sunday) |
Special joy-focused activities on this day |
|
White Center Candle |
Christ, the Light of the World |
Lit on the last day before Christmas break |
During Advent, our school community gathers for a special candle-lighting ceremony. Classes take turns leading these ceremonies, giving students ownership of this meaningful tradition.
Daily classroom devotions connect the candles to their spiritual themes:
- Week 1: Hope (Prophecy Candle)
- Week 2: Peace (Bethlehem Candle)
- Week 3: Joy (Shepherds Candle)
- Week 4: Love (Angels Candle)
These daily touchpoints help students mark time intentionally during a season that can otherwise feel rushed and chaotic.
The Jesse Tree helps students understand that Jesus' coming was part of God's plan from the beginning, providing essential context for Christmas.
Educational research confirms that connecting new information to existing knowledge enhances learning. The Jesse Tree builds on familiar Bible stories to help students understand the broader narrative of Scripture.
Advent Service Projects: Putting Faith into Action
Advent's themes of preparation and anticipation naturally connect to serving others. Each year, our students engage in grade-appropriate service projects that put their faith into action.
Advent Devotionals and Prayer Practices
Intentional prayer practices during Advent help students develop spiritual disciplines that last far beyond the Christmas season.
Our school-wide prayer initiatives include:
✓ Daily classroom prayer stations
- Age-appropriate prayer prompts
- Space for silent reflection
- Journals for recording prayer requests and answered prayers
- Visual reminders of Advent themes
✓ Weekly all-school prayer services
- Student-led Scripture readings
- Themed prayers following the Advent candles
- Worship songs that emphasize waiting and hope
- Moments of silence for personal reflection
✓ Family prayer resources
- Take-home Advent calendars with daily devotions
- Suggestions for family prayer time
- Tools for creating sacred space at home
- Weekly reflection questions for family discussion
These prayer practices create a counter-cultural rhythm of quiet and reflection during a season often filled with noise and activity. Students learn to value stillness and listening for God's voice amid the holiday bustle.
Incorporating Music and Arts into Advent
Artistic expression provides powerful ways for students to engage with Advent's spiritual themes. Our integrated arts approach helps students connect with Advent on multiple levels.
Music opportunities include:
- Learning traditional Advent hymns and their histories
- Exploring the difference between Advent and Christmas music
- Studying Advent music from different cultural traditions
- Preparing music for our annual Advent service
Visual arts projects include:
- Creating Advent-themed artwork for classroom and hallway displays
- Designing Advent banners for our school entrance
- Making Nativity-inspired art in various media
- Exploring the symbolism in traditional Advent imagery
These artistic experiences align with research on multiple intelligences, engaging students with diverse learning styles.
Advent and Academic Integration
Advent themes can be meaningfully integrated across the curriculum, creating rich learning experiences that connect faith with academic content.
Examples of cross-curricular Advent integration:
|
Subject |
Advent Integration |
|
Language Arts |
Analyzing Advent-related poetry and literature; writing reflections on hope, peace, joy, and love |
|
Social Studies |
Exploring Advent traditions around the world; studying historical contexts of Christmas |
|
Science |
Investigating the properties of light (connecting to Christ as Light); studying evergreens and their symbolism |
|
Mathematics |
Creating Advent-themed word problems; measuring and calculating for Advent crafts |
|
Technology |
Designing digital Advent calendars; researching and creating presentations on Advent symbols |
This intentional integration helps students see that faith isn't compartmentalized but connected to all areas of learning and life.
Educators have found that thematic integration increases student engagement and enhances learning outcomes. Our Advent integration provides an ideal opportunity for this approach.
Supporting Advent Observance at Home
We recognize that school Advent celebrations are most meaningful when reinforced at home. We partner with parents to create consistency between school and home observances.
Resources we provide to families include:
- Weekly Parent Communications: Email updates with information about school Advent activities and suggestions for home follow-up
- Advent Resource Library: Curated books, devotionals, and activity ideas families can borrow
- Parent Education: How to makeAdvent meaningful at home while managing holiday stress
- Family Service Opportunities: Weekend service projects families can participate in together
This home-school partnership strengthens both the educational impact and spiritual formation aspects of our Advent observance.
Our Annual Advent Service: Celebrating as a Community
The culmination of our Advent journey is an all-school worship service held during the final week before Christmas break. This special event brings together students, staff, families, and church members.
Elements of our Advent service include:
✓ Student leadership
- Readings and prayers led by students from all grade levels
- Music performed by our school choirs and instrumental groups
- Artwork and banners created by students displayed throughout
✓ Telling the whole story
- Scripture readings that trace God's plan from Creation to Christ
- Symbolic processions representing the Advent journey
- Testimonies from students about what they've learned
✓ Community participation
- Congregational singing of Advent hymns and songs
- Responsive readings for whole community involvement
- Family participation in candle lighting
This service celebrates our Advent journey while preparing hearts for the joy of Christmas. It serves as a powerful witness to the distinctive nature of Christian education during the holiday season.
Families interested in experiencing this celebration are welcome to contact our admissions office for details about attending as guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you balance Advent observance with Christmas celebration?
We maintain a clear distinction between Advent (the four weeks before Christmas) and the Christmas season (December 25 and the days following). During Advent, our focus is on preparation, waiting, and anticipation. We save Christmas carols and celebrations for the appropriate liturgical time.
This approach helps students understand the rhythm of the Christian year and creates a meaningful contrast between the preparation of Advent and the celebration of Christmas. By the time our Christmas break begins, students have a deep appreciation for what they're about to celebrate.
How do you respect diverse denominational backgrounds in Advent observances?
While Advent is historically observed in liturgical traditions (Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, etc.), we present it in ways that are meaningful for all Christian families. We focus on the universal themes of hope, preparation, and anticipation that resonate across denominational lines.
Our materials and explanations emphasize the biblical basis for Advent observances rather than specific denominational practices. We're sensitive to varying family traditions while helping all students engage with this meaningful season.
At what age can children understand Advent concepts?
Even very young children can grasp the core concept of waiting for something special. We adjust our Advent teaching to developmental levels:
- Preschool/Kindergarten: Concrete focus on waiting for baby Jesus, simple countdown activities
- Elementary: Introduction to symbols and their meanings, connecting Old Testament stories to Jesus' coming
- Middle School: Deeper theological concepts, historical context, personal spiritual application
Children's ability to understand sacred time develops gradually, so we build understanding year by year as students progress through our school.
How do you help children focus on Advent when they're bombarded with commercial Christmas?
We openly acknowledge the contrast between cultural Christmas celebrations and the Christian observance of Advent. Rather than simply criticizing commercialism, we offer a meaningful alternative.
Our approach includes:
- Discussing media messages about Christmas and how they compare to biblical accounts
- Creating a school environment that emphasizes simplicity and spiritual focus
- Providing families with tools for meaningful conversations about holiday priorities
- Modeling thoughtful consumption through our service and giving projects
These conversations help students develop discernment about cultural messages while embracing the deeper meaning of the season.
Can families from non-liturgical traditions opt out of Advent observances?
While Advent is a foundational part of our school culture, we're sensitive to differing family traditions. We haven't found that families typically want to opt out completely, as our Advent observances focus on biblical concepts relevant to all Christians.
However, we're always open to conversations with families who have questions or concerns. Our goal is to create inclusive spiritual experiences while remaining true to our school's Christian identity.
Conclusion
Celebrating Advent as a school community provides a counter-cultural opportunity to embrace the true meaning of the season. Through intentional traditions, service projects, and spiritual practices, we help students prepare their hearts for Christmas while building lasting faith foundations.
The quiet anticipation of Advent gives our students something our culture rarely offers—the gift of waiting, watching, and wondering. This gift serves them well not just during December but throughout their spiritual journeys.
If you're interested in learning more about how St. Paul School integrates faith throughout our educational program, please visit our website or contact our admissions office to schedule a tour.
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." — Isaiah 9:2
Contact Information
St. Paul School 201 Elm Street Northville, MI 48167
Phone: (248) 349-3146