Develop a Discipleship System
Light in the Midst of Darkness: Advent in Three Voices
Liturgical Resources for Intercultural Celebrations
This Advent resource was inspired by a gathering held in July 2024 at Discipleship Ministries in Nashville, convened by the liturgical network RedCrearte US Network. It was further enriched through workshops in Milwaukee and Minneapolis and includes contributions from brothers and sisters across Latin America. The result is a vibrant, multilingual collection of worship materials in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, aptly subtitled Advent in Three Voices. Within these pages, you will find songs, prayers, litanies, daily reflections, and even a Christmas cantata—resources thoughtfully crafted to assist congregations in their worship and spiritual preparation for the Advent season. This collaborative resource weaves together pastoral insights, liturgical traditions, and scriptural themes to inspire hope, peace, joy, and love in worshiping communities worldwide. Designed to serve churches of all sizes and contexts, it celebrates the diversity and unity of the global Church while offering practical, spiritually enriching materials for the journey through Advent.
Dr. Diana Sanchez-Bushong
INTRODUCTION
Advent is a season rich with symbolism and meaning. It spans the four Sundays before Christmas, each week offering a progressive deepening of our spiritual journey. The liturgical color for Advent is traditionally purple, associated with penitence and royalty. It reflects the dual nature of the season: a time of repentance and preparation for the coming King. In some traditions, the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, is marked by the color rose, symbolizing joy amidst the season’s more somber tones.
The themes of Advent—hope, peace, joy, and love—are central to the Christian faith. They guide our reflection during this time as we prepare to welcome the light of Christ into the world. Each candle of the Advent wreath, lit progressively over the four weeks, represents these themes and serves as a tangible reminder of the light that grows brighter as we draw closer to the celebration of Christmas.
Advent is also a time of waiting. But it is not a passive waiting; it is an active, expectant, and hopeful waiting. We wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises, for the coming of God’s kingdom in its fullness, and for the day when all things will be made new. This waiting shapes our spiritual lives, teaching us patience, deepening our trust in God, and reminding us that, as the Apostle Paul writes, “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed “ (Romans 13:11, NRSV).
As we journey through Advent, our hearts are gradually transformed. The season’s emphasis on waiting, repentance, and hope leads us to a deeper understanding of God’s love and grace. We become more aware of the light dawning in our lives and the world, a light that no darkness can overcome.
Advent calls us to be countercultural. While the world rushes ahead to Christmas with its commercialism and consumerism, Advent invites us to slow down, wait, and prepare. It teaches us that true joy and peace are found not in the season’s busyness but in the quiet moments of reflection and deepening our relationship with God.
As we light the Advent candles, read the scriptures, and pray and reflect each day, we are drawn closer to the mystery of the Incarnation—the Word made flesh, dwelling among us. We are reminded that God’s promises are true, that God is faithful, and that, even in the darkest times, Christ’s light shines bright.
Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker
Contact Us for Help
View staff by program area to ask for additional assistance.