Truth be told, Advent—the liturgical season of waiting prior to Christmas—is one of my favorite times of the church year. I love that the season encourages us to sit with questions and doubt and to be comfortable with waiting. And I love that it overlaps with the winter solstice: the spirit of advent seems to mirror the deepening and darkening of the days. And I love that Advent is tinged with anticipation: that we’re waiting with excitement for the not-yet-here in-breaking of God-in-our-midst.

So given all of this, I often find myself annoyed when churches skip too quickly past Advent hymns and jump right into Christmas music. I get it. The coming of Christ at Christmas is certainly a high point in the Christian year. And Christmas songs, by and large, are more singable than advent tunes, often written in minor keys and with a slower tempo.

But Advent is full of wonderful music just waiting to be sung and played. So, this year, we give you a playlist for Advent, perfect for listening to in this liminal space before Christmas.

Be sure to visit our site throughout Advent for daily devotionals beginning Sunday Nov. 29.