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Why Don’t We Sing Christmas Carols During Advent?

by Vicar Lisa Rygiel

The question comes up around this time every year, “Why don’t we sing Christmas carols during Advent?

Churches often reserve Christmas carols and songs for the Christmas season, which officially begins on Dec. 25 and lasts until Epiphany on Jan. 6. The period leading up to Christmas is called Advent, spanning the four Sundays before Christmas.

Advent is a time of preparation, anticipation, and reflection on the coming of Christ, both in His birth and his anticipated return. During Advent, the focus is on themes such as hope, waiting, and preparation, rather than the celebration itself. The music and liturgy are often more reflective and anticipatory, helping worshippers enter the spirit of the season and prepare their hearts for the joy of Christmas.

Below are some thoughts written by the Rev. Jon Schmidt (Jo Moss’s cousin), pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, located in West Salem, Wisconsin when Jo posed this question to him.

His answer is, we do it "by the book." We are liturgical; hence we have a liturgical calendar. The "church year" is not just a theological or ecclesiological (the Rev. Schmidt loves that word -- means churchy) mind game. 

He goes on to explain that the liturgical calendar allows us to center our lives on the rhythm of the Biblical message, the revelation of God's work in the world (and in our lives) through the birth-life-death-resurrection-enthronement-Spirit of the Word made flesh - Jesus!

In other words, the church year empowers our faith life as we share in the journey of Jesus. We can’t jump right into Christmas, first we take time to prepare during Advent. To prepare for the birth and make sure we are ready...to prepare for Jesus in our lives this day and every day...and to prepare for the coming of Jesus in glory whenever that day arrives.

That's why we don't just jump ahead and advance directly to "Go." Instead, we reflect, ponder and prepare for the birth. We take the time to do it right and learn a bit of patience in the process. That waiting not only heightens the excitement of Christmas proper (okay, we cheat a bit and get the party started on Dec 24, but more importantly to ensure that when the birth is celebrated, we are celebrating the right thing for the right reason.

This practice helps maintain a clear distinction between the time of preparation (Advent) and the time of celebration (Christmas), enriching the spiritual journey and the appreciation of the Christmas season.

Second Sunday in Advent -- December 8

10 a.m. Worship with Communion

Announcements

  • Fellowship Time: Join us after worship today in the Fellowship Hall for coffee and conversation, Let’s Chat. Also, Church Council meets downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
  • Special Thanks: We appreciate the work of our members who stayed after worship last Sunday to decorate the Fellowship Hall and for everyone who pitched in and helped us cleaning up all those Thanksgiving Day leftovers.
  • Living Lutheran Article: Here is the link to the great article Peter Stevenson wrote about Zion’s Community Thanksgiving: Feeding the multitude - Living Lutheran
  • December Newsletter: Zion’s December Newsletter Connections was sent via email on Dec. 1. Paper copies are available in the back of the Fellowship Hall and in the Sanctuary.
  • Toys for Tots: This Sunday, Dec. 8, is the last day to donate to Toys for Tots. Terri Watson is the U.S. Marine Corps’ local representative for the annual toy drive and has placed a collection box in the Fellowship Hall for toy donations. If you would like to make a monetary donation instead, please see Terri.
  • Senior Christmas Gifts: Again, this year, Zion’s is working with First National Bank to fulfill Christmas gifts wishes for local senior citizens. If you would like to help let Jo Moss know. She will give you an envelope with a senior’s wish and guidance for gift giving. Gifts should be wrapped and taken to the First National Bank main lobby, or given to Jo to deliver, no later than Dec. 17.
  • Weekly Bible Studies: Zion’s weekly Bible Study is on hiatus until after the holidays. It resumes on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, with the continuation of The Bible from Scratch, series, now focusing on The New Testament for Beginners. See the newsletter for more details.
  • Blue Christmas Worship: Zion’s Blue Christmas Worship service of comfort begins at 5:30 on Dec. 21, in the sanctuary. It provides a quiet and contemplative experience that respects those who are walking through grief or struggling in other ways. The reasons to attend are many, the purpose is to remember that God is good. God is strong. God is near. If you would like to participate by giving a reading, please let Vicar Lisa know.

E-formation – Second Sunday of Advent -- December 8

The origin of Advent as a season of fasting to prepare for baptisms at Epiphany is evident on the Second Sunday, which introduces the preaching and baptismal ministry of John the Baptist. God comes, in the past in the history of Israel and the incarnation of Jesus, in the present in the word and sacrament of each Sunday, and in the future at the end of all things. The preaching of John the Baptist calls us to prepare for God—perhaps in many ways quite different from our preparing for Christmas.

Luke 3:1-6

By listing authorities in the Roman Empire and in Jerusalem’s temple staff, and by setting John the Baptist next to Isaiah near the Jordan, Luke presents a detailed setting for Jesus’ adult life and ministry. Christ stands within human history, fulfilling in unexpected ways the religious expectations of his people. Also today, the body of Christ lives in the real world and shows to “all flesh” God’s salvation. We are to reorder the world and build a royal triumphal highway for the coming of the Lord, in the present and the future.

Malachi 3:1-4

The passage from Malachi is chosen as an example of the religious expectation that a messenger would urge the people to prepare for the messiah. Christians hear Malachi’s messenger, like the voice of John the Baptist, speaking also to us, calling us to keep the covenant of our baptism and to purify our lives from sin.

Philippians 1:3-11

Paul’s joy comes not from holiday preparation but through his faith in God’s grace, compassion, and evidence of righteousness. As Paul awaits Christ’s second coming, we join him by also meeting Christ in holy communion and anticipating the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Zion's Lutheran Church

A Reconciling in Christ Community

zionsluth@gmail.com

719-846-7785