Advent is a 4-week season that begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues through Christmas Day. “Advent” comes from a Latin word meaning “to come.” So, these four weeks provide an opportunity to focus on the two comings of Jesus Christ—His first coming 2,000 years ago and His second coming in the future.
As God commanded His children Israel to set aside holidays and celebrations to remember his work in the past and to anticipate his promises for the future, we invite you to celebrate Advent on your own, with your family and/or with us in one or more of the following ways.
- Acquire an Advent calendar for you home. These calendars are made up of 24 “windows” containing Scriptures, stories, poems or gifts, to count down the days until Christmas. As each window is opened and the final day draws closer, expectation increases. Advent calendars reminds us of the hopeful yet anxious waiting God’s people experienced as they longed for the promised Savior to come.
- Another popular tradition is marking the progression of the season through an Advent wreath made up of five candles. This symbol
is borrowed from the emphasis throughout Scripture of Jesus Christ being the Light of the World (Matt. 4:16; John 1:4-9, 8:12). Each week a new candle is lit in anticipation of Christmas Eve. The last candle, called the Christ Candle, is lit on Christmas Eve to represent Jesus’ first advent. Through this theme of ever-increasing light penetrating the darkness, we see a picture of the gospel. - Read through Ann Voskamp’s book Unwrapping the Greatest Gift (available on Amazon for less than $20). Intended for children of all ages, this book tells the beautiful story of God’s love for us from the beginning of the Bible through Jesus’ birth.
- Join us on Sunday mornings (10:45 a.m.) as we come together to worship, light the Advent candles, hear a message about Jesus’ coming and sing Christmas songs.
- Join us as we unite with Bloom Church on Christmas Eve (5 p.m. in the Reception Hall or 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary) for a sacred time for worship, singing, candles, and an opportunity to re-center your life on what really matters—your relationship with God, your family and friends.
May God bless you and may there be much joy to the world throughout this sacred season of Advent!