Advent at Citygate
This Christmas season, make room for what matters most.
The Christmas season can quickly become filled with shopping, schedules, celebrations, and endless to-do lists. But Advent invites us to slow down, turn our attention toward Jesus, and remember the greatest gift ever given.
Advent is a season of anticipation, reflection, and preparation as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and look forward with hope to His promised return.
We invite you and your family to join us as we journey through Advent together. Through weekly videos, Scripture, meaningful conversations, and the simple practice of lighting an Advent candle each evening, we can create space to remember the true reason we celebrate.
Whether you're participating on your own, with your spouse, or with your whole family, there's a place for you in this journey.
The season
The Advent season is a four-week period meant to prepare our hearts for Christmas Day, when we celebrate Jesus' birthday!
Advent means “coming.” Similar to those who awaited the arrival of the Messiah over 2,000 years ago, in this Advent season we await the celebration of Jesus' birth and anticipate His coming again one day.
Rather than simply counting down the days until Christmas, Advent gives us an opportunity to focus on the significance of Jesus' arrival and the hope, peace, joy, and love found in Him.
It's an invitation to pause, reflect, worship, and make room for Jesus in the middle of a busy season.
The purpose
We celebrate Advent because Christmas is about more than a holiday or a tradition. It's about Jesus, the Savior who came into the world to rescue us and bring us into relationship with God.
Advent helps us:
Reflect on God's faithfulness and the promise of a Savior fulfilled through Jesus.
Set aside the distractions of the season and intentionally put Jesus at the center.
Make room in our hearts for worship, gratitude, and reflection.
Celebrate the hope we have in Jesus and look forward to His return.
Our prayer is that this season would become more than something you observe, but something that draws you closer to Jesus.
Simple & meaningful
You don't need to do anything complicated to participate in Advent. Simply set aside a few intentional moments each day to focus on Jesus.
Set aside a special time each day to light your Advent candle. This can become a meaningful rhythm for you, your spouse, or your family.
Each week, you'll introduce a new candle representing that week's Advent theme. Continue lighting the candles from previous weeks as you add each new one.
As you light the candle:
Optional links to external shopping sites, to help you get started.
Each week, we'll provide a short video to help guide you through that week's Advent theme.
Gather your family, watch the video together, and use it as an opportunity to reflect on what God is teaching you.
These videos are designed to help you understand the significance of each theme and create meaningful conversations about the story of Jesus.
After watching the weekly video, take some time to work through the discussion questions provided.
These questions are designed to help you move beyond simply learning about Advent and begin applying its meaning to your everyday life.
There are no perfect answers. The goal is to have meaningful conversations, reflect on Scripture, and grow together in your faith.
If you're participating on your own, use the questions as personal reflection prompts and spend time journaling or praying through your responses.
Throughout the week, revisit the Scripture passages provided. Let God's Word guide your thoughts, conversations, and prayers.
You can read the passage each day as you light your candle or revisit it throughout the day.
Advent is a wonderful opportunity to establish meaningful traditions with your family.
Invite your children to help light the candle (with adult supervision), read Scripture, answer questions, and pray together.
Don't worry about making everything perfect. What matters most is creating intentional moments to point your family back to Jesus.
CG Kids reminder
If you have children who are part of CG Kids, make sure to pick up your family's CG Kids Advent bag in the Activity Center.
Advent 2026
Each week, you'll find everything you need to participate in Advent, including a weekly video, Scripture readings, discussion questions, and guidance for your candle-lighting time.
Week One
November 29 – December 5, 2026
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Before jumping into the questions, take a moment to think about what stood out to you in this week’s video and Scripture reading.
Use the questions below to guide your conversation. Take your time, listen to one another, and consider how you can live out what you’ve learned.
What are my deepest hopes for this Advent season?
How can I find moments of quiet and stillness today to listen to God's voice?
In what ways can I be a beacon of hope to those around me?
What passage of Scripture or story speaks to my heart about hope, and why?
How does the anticipation of Advent mirror my own spiritual journey right now?
Where do I need God's light to shine in my life right now?
Reflect on a time when hope was difficult to hold onto. What felt like God's presence in that time?
As you light the candle, quiet your heart, read the passage, and pray together. Thank God for the hope He gives us in Jesus.
Keep it simple
Our prayer is that Advent would help you slow down, rediscover the wonder of Jesus, and keep Him at the center of your Christmas celebration.
Let's make room for the greatest gift ever given.
Take it with you
Everything you need to make the most of your Advent journey.
Download the Advent discussion questions to use with your family or for personal reflection.
Download Discussion Questions
The PDF isn't available yet. In the meantime, every daily question is in the guide above.
Watch the Advent videos together throughout the season.
Watch on YouTube(opens in new tab)Help your children celebrate Advent with a special calendar designed for families.
View Advent Calendar(PDF, opens in new tab)This Advent season, take time to slow down, reflect on God's goodness, and celebrate the hope, peace, joy, and love we find in Jesus.
Whether you're participating alone or with family, we invite you to experience Advent with Citygate.
