Advent

In the Christian calendar, the church year begins with the season of Advent. Traditionally, the church has designated the four Sundays before Christmas Day as Advent. The word Advent simply means “coming” and refers initially to the birth of the Lord Jesus in Bethlehem. The observance of these Sundays conveys a sense of expectation in our hearts. For centuries, prophets and faithful Israelites looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. The Messiah has come and now we not only remember the event of his birth, but also look forward with expectation to his coming again at the end of the age. During this time, the themes of preparation and anticipation are emphasized in our worship. Our singing of the hymns and carols, our lighting of the advent candles, our prayers and reading of the Scriptures underscore for us these truths. We prepare for the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord and anticipate the blessings of His coming at Christmas. During Advent we also look forward to the return of Christ in glory. As we look to his second Advent, we prepare our hearts in joyful anticipation of that great day. The Scripture readings for Advent can be utilized in family worship or for personal devotion. This season is a time of spiritual enrichment as we remember the Incarnation of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings   in   Advent