OUR HISTORY WITH ADVENT

If you do a Google search on the "Origins of Advent," you will learn a lot. For example, Advent didn't begin as a Christmas alternative, intended to focus on the incarnation. It was a season of preparation in which baptismal candidates were preparing for the Epiphany, a day in January. At this time, annual baptisms occurred when new members were officially welcomed into the church's fellowship. At least, this is what one of my results turned up in my Google search! 

At that time, the Advent season focused on the coming of Christ. However, it wasn't on the first coming, but the second. Again, this is a definite Christian posture, as we should always be prepared and preparing for the coming of the Lord! The fact is that many church traditions have morphed and changed over time. This is clearly the case with Advent.

Regardless, there is the historical reality that at some point in the celebration of Advent, the focus did become the first and Second Coming of Christ, with a particular emphasis beginning the Sunday after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. We don't follow this strictly, as we only celebrate together on Christmas Day every five years when it lands on a Sunday. So, if we're not strict in our adherence and are not a liturgical church by definition, why do we celebrate Advent?

The answer is simple. I repeat it often, every year, multiple times during this time of year. We want to slow down and think deeply about the significance of the birth of Christ and His promised return. We hope that during this season, our hearts will be moved closer to the Lord and further from the consumerism that Christmas elicits. We hope that the weekly focus from the main sanctuary to the Core Kids classes will overflow into your family routines during this season. Finally, we HOPE to make MUCH of Jesus as we focus on God's faithfulness!