Are We Ready For Advent?

     Every year about this time I am asked over and aver again “What in the world is Advent?”  It seems that as the years go by, the meaning and significance of much of what the church has done for centuries is being lost.  Perhaps the following will be of some help.

What Exactly is Advent?

     Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays.  It is a time of preparation for Christmas, the celebration of Christ’s birth.  It is different from secular preparations for Christmas in that there is encouragement to study and pray in anticipation of Christ’s coming.  Historically, the season was marked by prayer and fasting as part of the preparation.  Each Sunday of Advent has its distinctive theme: Christ's coming in final victory (First Sunday), John the Baptist (Second and Third Sundays), and the events immediately preceding the birth of Jesus Christ (Fourth Sunday).

     Purple or blue are used for paraments, stoles, and banners. Visuals of the season may include an Advent wreath (an evergreen wreath with four purple candles and a central white Christ candle added on Christmas Eve/Day), evergreen wreaths and branches, a Chrismon tree (an evergreen tree covered with white monograms of Christ), and a Jesse tree (a tree with signs of the ancestors of Christ).

What Does the Word “Advent” Mean?

     Advent comes from the Latin words adventus and advenire, which means "coming” or arrival."  Advent refers to the idea that God comes to the world through the birth of Christ.  The word advent is also the root of the word adventure.

Where is Advent Mentioned in the Bible?

     The word advent is not specifically mentioned in the Bible.  However, the Bible does mention over and over again the theme of God’s coming into the world.

When Does Advent Begin And End?

     Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas on either the last Sunday in November or first Sunday in December.  Advent ends at sundown on Christmas Eve.  The Christmas season (12 Days of Christmas) begins on Christmas day.

Do all Christians Celebrate Advent?

     Advent is normally celebrated by individuals and denominations that follow the church seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost (i.e. Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Catholic).  However, anyone is welcomed and encouraged to celebrate Advent and all the seasons of the church in their homes and churches regardless of denomination.

What Are the Colors Of Advent?

     The colors of Advent are purple or blue.  Red and green are the colors associated with the secular celebration of Christmas.  Purple symbolizes the royal nature of the Messiah’s coming.  Blue symbolizes the hope the Messiah brings to the world.

What Does Advent Mean for Us Today?

    The season of Advent proclaims the comings of Christ.  We celebrate the first coming of Christ as a baby born to Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem.  Jesus came not just once but comes continually in Word and Spirit.  We also celebrate as we think about Jesus coming again and we anticipate his return in final victory as he ushers in the New Jerusalem.  Each year Advent calls the community of faith to prepare for these comings.  As we prepare for Christmas, let us also prepare for the season of Advent.  Let the days between now and Christmas be a time in which we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of God in Christ.

May the God of all hope live richly within you this Advent season;   Pastor Carl