The Advent of Advent

taken from pinterest


 With the advent of Advent, the church calendar marks a change in season. We enter into a season of waiting, expectantly, for the arrival of the Messiah, the Christ child; Emmanuel, the Lord with us.


Outside, the leaves change and fall to the ground as the chill of winter settles in. Nature’s growth comes to a halt. We pull the sweaters out, and put the gloves on; we are zipped, buttoned and wrapped; ready for a new season.


As fall disappears and winter enters, we Christians also enter a new season. A season to pause in hope for the long-awaited Messiah - Christ our king, born from heaven, ushered in through Mary in a stable. We prepare for the Messiah that had long been prophesied about in the Scriptures, the Messiah, for whom the Jews had longed. It is a season of waiting and preparation.
Yet we live in a society that abhors waiting. Instant satisfaction is our mantra - fast food, 4G, DVR to fast forward through the commercials. Imagine a world where we go back to dial-up! And the stores are already rolling - it seems the holiday decorations were out before the end of October. Heck, some of my friends put up Christmas trees right after Halloween. Say what!?
Advent is more than just the processional countdown to Christmas Day. It is a season in itself. A season to slow down, live into, remain present.


Looking for a way to abide in the season of Advent? My shameless plug - participate in our faith community project the “Advent Baton.”  By following the Advent Baton on Instagram, or volunteering to carry the baton for a day, you can share in the ways individuals observe Advent in their daily lives. Search www.instagram.com/adventbaton to see it what it looks like. There’s a Signup Genius for scheduling who has the baton for every day in Advent. It’s a small commitment, but 25 voices together sharing our faith online a NO small feat! Contact me for more information.


Peace be with you!

Location: Raleigh, NC, USA

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