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We are entering in the Christmas Advent Season. What is Advent? Advent” is a Latin word which means “something is coming, something is on the way.” Advent is a season of anticipation, of expectation, and of preparation. The prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 11:1, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit” (NIV). This is a prophecy about the coming Messiah. The Messiah was prophesied to be a descendant of King David. David’s father was Jesse. This new “shoot,” this new “Branch,” is a reference to the Messiah--Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, Advent is the season in which we prepare to receive Christ into our hearts and into our world. Traditionally, Advent begins the church year. That is why our calendars divide time itself into B.C. and A.D. The first coming of Christ foreshadowed His second coming, His Second Advent. Advent uses candles to symbolize our anticipation, our expectation and our preparation. Purple for royalty, rose (pink) for rejoicing and white for the sinless Christ. Advent is a season of hope (Dec. 2), love (Dec. 9), joy (Dec. 16), and peace (Dec. 23), which are the four Sunday themes. Then on Christmas Eve we will celebrate the theme of the Christ child.

In addition to this, purple reminds us that the gift of God’s Son was given admits great suffering. Rose (pink) reminds us that there is an integral link between the crib of Christ and the cross of Christ -- His innocent blood was shed on the cross for our sins. White reminds us that our sins can be made “white as snow.” Advent begins the last Sunday in November and concludes on Christmas Eve. 

The Christian Advent Wreath tells in a dramatic way of the dark and waiting world, and of the first dawning of light which grows brighter and brighter as the weeks pass until its brilliance merges at last with the star over Bethlehem. On the First Sunday in Advent the first of four candles is lit and the first Old Testament prophecy is read. On each of the succeeding three Sundays in Advent another prophecy is read and another candle is lit until the wreath is a circle of light. Thus we move closer each week in preparation, anticipation and expectation to the birth of Christ. On Christmas Eve, the Christ candle is lit to show that that God’s light, His Son, has been born in this dark world.

Each week a family in our church will help lead us in celebrating the Advent theme for that Sunday. “For unto us is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Come and celebrate with us the birth of Jesus each week. Merry Christmas.