What "Singing in Advent" means
Advent is one of the most theologically rich seasons the church calendar offers and one of the most frequently flattened into sentimentality by worship culture. "Singing in Advent" tries to hold the genuine tension of the season: the joy of anticipation combined with the honest acknowledgment that the world is not yet as it should be. The "Contemporary" artist tag places this in a broader tradition of Advent songwriting that resists both the saccharine Christmas-music register and the purely academic liturgical approach. The tags make the intent clear: church-calendar, liturgical, joy, advent, celebration. At 90 BPM in G, this sits in an energetic register for a liturgical song, which suggests it is trying to hold the celebratory dimension of Advent rather than only the longing. Advent carries both: come, Lord Jesus, and also, the Lord is coming, so sing. This song appears to sit in both postures simultaneously without collapsing either one. For worship leaders who want to give Advent its proper theological weight without abandoning congregational joy, this is a useful and well-calibrated tool. The gap it fills is real: many worship teams default to standard Christmas carols in December and lose the particular character of Advent entirely, the waiting, the longing, the anticipation of a promise not yet fully received.
What this song does in a room
Advent songs in a contemporary idiom do something that traditional carols cannot always do: they give younger worship teams a way to participate in the church calendar without the visual and sonic disconnect of switching to a completely different musical register for four weeks. "Singing in Advent" lets a band that sounds like your regular worship team play something that is doing genuine liturgical work. The congregational effect is that people who might disengage during a traditional carol-heavy season find themselves singing into the actual theological content of Advent. The 90 BPM tempo also allows the song to function as an opener or mid-set energy moment rather than only a contemplative closer. That flexibility is valuable for Advent planning, where you often need to hold joy and longing in the same service without lurching between emotional registers. A congregation that can sing something this energetic while staying inside the liturgical posture of waiting has been given a real gift.
What this song is saying about God
The theological center of Advent is the two-horizon promise: the God who came in the Incarnation and the God who is coming again. "Singing in Advent" lives in that space. It is not only a song about what already happened in Bethlehem. It is a song about a God whose character is to come toward his people. The Incarnation is not a one-time event that proved God's love. It is the definitive revelation of a God who has always been moving toward humanity and who will complete that movement at the return of Christ. The joy the song carries is not naive happiness. It is the joy of people who know how the story ends and are living in the tension between the already and the not yet with their eyes fully open.
Scriptural backbone
Isaiah 9:6 undergirds the Advent proclamation: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Luke 1:46-47 carries the celebratory register: "And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'" Revelation 22:20 holds the second-advent longing at the horizon: "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
How to use it in a service
Use this song across any of the four Sundays of Advent, but it is particularly strong on the first Sunday when you are establishing the season's posture with the congregation for the weeks ahead. A brief verbal introduction connecting the song to the Advent themes of waiting and joy will help orient the congregation to the liturgical intent rather than treating it as a generic upbeat number. It also works as a service opener in the weeks leading up to Christmas when you want to avoid starting with a standard Christmas carol but still want to be clearly inside the season. Pair it with a candle-lighting or other Advent liturgical element when possible. The combination of contemporary sound with intentional ritual helps the congregation understand that this is a season with meaning and not just a musical vibe shift. Consider projecting the traditional Advent scripture alongside the song lyrics.
Things to watch for as the worship leader
The 90 BPM energy creates a risk: Advent can feel less like Advent and more like a pre-Christmas celebration if the joyful tempo overwhelms the longing dimension of the season. Hold both. Watch your tone when you introduce the song and when you speak between sections. Your words are the container that helps the congregation understand what kind of joy this is. Advent joy is not the same as Christmas party joy. It is the joy of people who have not yet received the gift but who are certain it is coming. That distinction is pastoral, not merely aesthetic, and it is yours to carry as the leader in every decision about how you set up and close this song. If the congregation does not know the difference between Advent and Christmas, this is a teaching moment worth taking.
A note for the team behind you (techs, vocalists, band)
At 90 BPM in G, the band has room to play with some texture and energy. Acoustic guitar works well as the lead instrument here, keeping the sound accessible rather than heavily produced. If you have a cajon or a simple drum setup, let the percussion stay crisp and forward without being overwhelming. Background vocalists can lean into the celebratory dimension on the chorus while keeping the overall blend warm rather than driving. Consider using Advent-appropriate visual elements on screen: deep purple or royal blue backgrounds, candlelight imagery, or simple textual references to the season such as "Come, Lord Jesus." The combination of a contemporary sound with explicitly liturgical visual cues helps the congregation understand that this is not simply a Christmas song but a genuine engagement with the church calendar's oldest and most honest invitation.