7 Ways to Decorate the Church for Advent
The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are often a holiday rush to buy gifts, attend parties, and all that the Christmas season brings.
In sharp contrast to the commercialized hustle and bustle, Advent is a tradition intended to inspire us to reflect on the season's true meaning. The four Sundays leading up to Christmas provide us with an opportunity to consider the importance of Christ's birth. After all, His sacrifice didn’t start at the cross. It began when Jesus left His rightful throne in heaven to become a helpless baby. You can help your congregation pause and prepare by setting the atmosphere of the church.
Here are five ways to decorate your church for Advent this year:
#1 - Use a Traditional Advent Color Palette
Purple, pink, white, and sometimes blue are often used for Advent candles and decorations. Each color represents a different aspect of Advent, such as the royalty of baby Jesus (purple) or the light Christ brought into the world (white).
Weave these colors throughout your Advent decorations. Lights, flowers, fabric, tablecloths, wreaths, and centerpieces can all include these traditional colors.
We have several banners for Advent that pull from this color palette and the theme for the four Sundays of Advent (joy, peace, hope, and faith).
#2 - Make an Advent wreath
A traditional Advent candle wreath consists of some garland and four candles. On each Sunday, light the Advent candle for that week (plus the previous weeks) during the Advent reading. These candles represent love, hope, faith, joy, or peace (depending on your church’s tradition). Some churches use white candles, while others may use red, blue, purple, or one pink candle.
Include individuals beyond the pastor or elders to light the candles each week. You might ask a different individual or family to read the Scripture passages for that week before they light the corresponding candle(s).
Also, compile instructions for how to create a simple Advent wreath at home and provide that to the congregation. Include a passage of Scripture and a prayer for each week of Advent in the church bulletin, on the church's website, and on social media pages. Encourage families to read these together as each family lights their own candle for the week.
#3 - Display an Advent Calendar
Make or purchase a large Advent calendar and display it in the church's main lobby. Coordinate with those responsible for children’s ministry and display a few smaller Advent calendars - one in each room.
You could also provide a few ideas to families for creating their own Advent calendars and reflecting on the coming of Jesus throughout the week.
Many Advent calendars include places to tuck in chocolates, small notes, or even ornaments. This can be a fun way for families to celebrate Advent each day and see what's in that day's spot on the calendar.
#4 - Change Table Decorations
Consider changing out any table throws to match the Advent color palette. Ask volunteers to create Advent-themed centerpieces for various tables throughout the church building.
These could include a small Advent wreath, a miniature Christmas tree, a flower arrangement, a nativity, and more.
The main lobby, children’s check-in, the welcome center, coffee area, and more are all places you could freshen up for the Advent season.
#5 - Outdoor Decorations
Use banners or signs in the parking lot and at entrances to the church building that remind people of that week’s Advent theme. Use the traditional colors of purple, pink, white, or blue. Consider posting the Advent reading for that week on the main church sign.
#6 - Stage Decorations
Use a set of our Advent banners as a centerpiece or to flank either side of the stage. Another option is to create a custom backdrop banner with colors and text that match how your church celebrates Advent.
Another way to adorn the stage for Advent is with flowers. A few arrangements of flowers in traditional Advent colors would be a lovely addition to the altar and area around the pulpit.
#7 - Kids Ministry
Decorate children's ministry areas with banners, signs, and decorations that reflect the themes of Advent. Introduce Advent to children by sharing the weekly Advent reading with them. Consider helping kids make a small Advent wreath or calendar to take home. Make a Jesse tree on the first Sunday of Advent and use that to explain the lineage and life of Jesus.
Celebrating Christmas begins when we focus on Jesus.
The waiting to celebrate His birth reflects our waiting for when Christ returns to earth. While the gifts and gatherings of the Christmas season are fun, the Advent season is a time to prepare our hearts to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Help families embrace what might be a new tradition for them by teaching what Advent means and how to incorporate it into their Christmas celebrations.
By decorating the church and modeling how to celebrate Advent, you can help congregants decide how to honor this tradition at home.
