Advent begins a little later than usual this year. It always starts four Sundays prior to Christmas day. This year, Christmas day falls on a Monday, which means that Christmas Eve is also the Fourth Sunday of Advent. In the morning, we will have one worship service where we talk about waiting and anticipation of what is to come. Then we return that afternoon and evening to hear that the waiting is over and God has come into our world in the birth of the Christ child. It’s a bit of a stretch, especially for the musicians, but it creates a dramatic and pleasing finale to the season.
The word Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” Advent scripture lessons are about God’s coming Messiah and the change God will ultimately bring to creation. The season proclaims the coming of Christ, not just once long ago, but repeatedly throughout history to present moment. We remember his birth in Bethlehem, of course, but we also celebrate his coming in Word and Spirit, and who will return in final victory at the end of the age.
Let this be a time in which we make ourselves ready for God who continues to step into our ordinary lives to do something extraordinary.
See you in church,
Pastor Steve