As many are aware, the Christian season of Advent began yesterday.  I didn’t grow up celebrating Advent, but I’ve come to appreciate it in recent years.  In a culture that can barely wait to shove the Thanksgiving leftovers in the refrigerator so they can get in line for the Black Friday sales, Advent calls us to put aside the shopping and 24/7 holiday music on the radio and approach the seasonal celebration with reverence and understanding of why Christ came to Earth and why he will come again.

If your church regularly observes the Advent season, it’s very likely that your youth have gained a familiarity with the traditions and meaning of the season.  Some youth, on the other hand, may benefit from some resources geared toward them to help them understand what Advent is all about.  I’d like to recommend the following Advent resources for youth (and youth ministers!).

• Following the Star – This site provides daily, online Advent devotionals for youth and young adults.  It is part of d356.org, which was created and is produced by Passport, Inc., a student ministry organization focused on creating meaningful experiences and resources for youth.
• Advent Conspiracy – This site isn’t just for youth, but it contains some great resources and is built around four simple concepts: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.
• Rethinking Youth Ministry – This is a youth ministry blog written by two youth ministers named Brian and Jacob.  These guys do a great job of offering thoughtful and creative resources for Advent as well as other holiday seasons.
• REfuel – A British religious education site that explores some unique themes of Advent while also exploring some of the traditions and art of the season.

What resources would you add to this list?