Dillon Community Church

When I was growing up, Advent wasn’t something we celebrated in church. Christmas mainly revolved around Santa Claus, presents, and holiday cheer. There were no Christmas Eve services, no candles lit in anticipation, and no reflection on Christ’s coming.

That changed after I got married. My wife introduced me to Advent through a cherished family tradition. Each morning in December, we turned over one of the hand-sewn felt figures on an Advent calendar her mother had made for her when she was little. The thoughtful act of revealing scenes from the story of Christ’s birth captivated our children and marked a new kind of anticipation for Christmas. As our kids grew, the felt calendar remained a staple, but we started adding candy-filled Advent calendars to the mix. One year, our dog Lucy celebrated Advent by devouring an entire chocolate calendar! (She was fine, she’s a lab).

It wasn’t until we began attending DCC that the full beauty of Advent unfolded for me. The weekly services, with families reading scripture and lighting candles, brought a stillness and reverence to the season. Each moment invited reflection, patience, and the quiet joy of counting down to Christ’s birth. We embrace Psalm 46:10 lifestyle for a few weeks each year: “Be still and know I am God.”

Christmas Eve at DCC has become the highlight that we look forward to each year, a celebration of togetherness, a time of light, song, and awe. Through Advent, I’ve come to treasure the spiritual joy of this season—a joy that transforms waiting into something holy and deeply fulfilling.

Merry Christmas as you enjoy Advent this year.

Steve Miller, elder

‍