A GUIDE TO ADVENT BY AMEN PAPER COMPANY
Amen Paper Company with art by Lindsay Letters W W W . A M E N P A P E R C O M P A N Y . C O M
# A M E N A D V E N T
OUR PRAYER FOR YOU DEAR FRIENDS, We enter into this Advent season �lled with excitement and anticipation. This is our sixth year of celebrating Advent as a company, and while our name has recently changed, our mission and vision to see women draw near to the Lord has stayed exactly the same. Let it Be was birthed from our desire to declare a bold Amen over our lives. As we head into a new season this year, we want to be a company that proclaims that we agree with the word of the Lord. As we thoughtfully prayed over this Advent season and you - our friends and customers whom we deeply love - this was our resounding prayer: that we would LET IT BE about Him this season. Without a doubt in our minds, we knew that this was the Advent that the Lord was leading us to. This was the Advent we wanted for our community. We’ve stripped away any �u� or fuss, and we are running full speed ahead into a simple, graceful, gentle, and restorative mission to Let it Be. We’ve created this Advent guide to serve as an encouragement and inspiration for you and your community. Our hope is that this won’t just be another holiday to-do, but that it will ignite remembrance and celebration of our Savior’s birth. We ask that the Lord would work in mighty ways and do whatever He needs to do in our hearts and lives. LORD, LET IT BE.
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S OUR PRAYER FOR YOU HISTORY OF ADVENT TRE AT S + TUNES DECOR INSPIRATION COMMUNIT Y + FAMILY ACTIVITIES HOW TO USE YOUR DEVOTIONAL
HISTORY OF ADVENT What is Advent and how does it relate to Christmas!? Advent is a season that we, as the family of Christ, spend in preparation for the celebration of our Savior’s birth. Advent comes from a Latin origin meaning “the coming” or “coming toward.” Advent is a season of expectancy and anticipation of Christ’s arrival. Many centuries ago, many Christians felt that it was inadequate to only mark o� one day of the yearly calendar for this great occasion. Advent was born not only to serve as a reminder, but to also serve as an active way to teach children of the signi�cance of Christmas. At �rst, the days preceding Christmas were marked o� with chalk on believers doors. The �rst Advent calendar was created by a mother for her son in Germany in the late 19th century. In 1908, this same boy opened a printing o�ce and produced what is thought to be the �rst-ever printed Advent calendar. While calendars and activities have developed over time, the meaning has stayed the same. We invite you to join us in anticipation as we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
We love any excuse to gather our favorite people around a good meal. We’ve attached our holiday menu of dreams. Preheat the oven, and crank up the tunes - it’s Advent time! Check out our Pinterest board for even more yummy inspiration!
TREATS + TUNES
D I N N E R PA R T Y M E N U BAKED BRIE + CRANBERRIES ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROU T S + CINNAMON BU TTERNU T SQUASH FRENCH BEEF + RED WINE STEW OVER GARLIC MASHED P OTATOES APPLE CRISP STUFFED BAKED APPLES
A D V E N T P L AY L I S T We’ve compiled some of our favorite silly + serious songs about Christmas! We hope these tunes can help you celebrate this season!
We love tradition around here , and one of our favorite traditions is decorating
for the Advent season. For the past �ve years, we’ve hung our Advent calendar in primarily the same way - some fun twine + mini clothespins. But for you
creative geniuses out there, don’t let us hold you back. Here is a list of other ways you could display your calendar throughout this season + beyond.
HOW TO:
HANG YOUR CALENDAR Hang bakers twine + clothespins Create a washi-tape tree
Hang Christmas garland + photos Make a Christmas mobile
Hang your prints on a tree like ornaments
Tape your prints to your wall with spruces of pine Repurpose your prints all year long as prints, cards, packaging + more.
DECOR + DIY Eucalyptus wreath
Holiday centerpiece
Wooden bead garland
Paint dipped pine cones Gold branches
Holiday card display
DECOR INSPIRATION
Click here to see our complete list of how we’re decorating for the holidays!
COMMUNIT Y + FAMILY ACTIVITIES
We’re all about family during the holidays! Our families try to do a small activity each day during the season of Advent. By doing this, we pause and recognize that this season is sacred and worthy of celebration! Our Advent activities always includes a mix of longstanding traditions and a handful of new ideas we can’t wait to try. We are grateful for ways to engage in fun + meaningful celebrations with our “by-birth” and “by-choice” family. Grab a group of friends, neighbors, or co-workers and start celebrating! Celebrating Advent isn’t about �lling your schedule or adding just one more thing to your life, but rather it’s remembering that Jesus came to make a way for us and He is coming back again!
PICK OUT A CHRISTMAS TREE
BAKE COOKIES
LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
THROW A GIFT WRAPPING PARTY
VOLUNTEER AS A FAMILY
READ A CHRSTMAS BOOK
GO CAROLING
HANG MISTLETOE
WEAR CHRISTMAS PA JAMAS
READ THE CHRISTMAS STORY
DECORATE THE TREE
ROAST MASHMALLOWS
HOW TO : DEVOTIONAL
1. Order devotional we o�er bulk orders too!
2. Read daily in community or solo get together or share online!
3 . S h a r e w h a t y o u’ r e l e a r n i n g how do you let it be?
4. Let it be about HIM worship + celebrate our savior!
5. Read tips on how to lead a group