Since ancient times, Christians in the west have recognized the four weeks before Christmas as the season of Advent. From the Latin Adventus, meaning “coming,” it refers to the coming of Jesus into the world. It is an invitation to reflect on the rich origin of Christmas when the long-anticipated Christ entered the world in the humility of a manger in Bethlehem. It also looks forward to his coming again in great glory when the Prince of Peace will usher in universal and enduring harmony.
The musician Charles Wesley beautifully captured the thrust of Advent:
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
The rest-filled hope held out in Advent is also ours to share. The angel proclaimed to the shepherds on that first Christmas, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people” (Luke 2:10).
Please share the life-giving news of Advent with others by inviting them to join you for worship each Sunday in December.