Advent – Week of Hope

“Advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” During the season of Advent, we celebrate Christ’s coming into the world and watch with expectant hope for his coming again. In its historical origins, the season of Advent was patterned after the season of Lent, a six-week period of penitence and preparation for Easter. Similarly, the four weeks of Advent present an opportunity for communal discernment and personal examination, as the church prepares to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord and looks with hope for Christ’s return. (From the PC(USA) office of Theology and Worship)

Jesus tells his disciples, “keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Advent is the promise that God is coming in Jesus Christ in the midst of our lives of work and family, joy and grief, health and illness, hope and disappointment. We don’t always know what that looks like; and so Jesus’ promise is less a description of how this works and more an encouragement for our hope. We are people who live in light of this promise, who commit to practices of prayer, worship, and service, anticipating God coming into our midst. Jesus encourages us to watch and wait. How are you waiting? How are you preparing for God’s coming this year?

Sunday, December 1