Nick & I are learning about Advent. It hasn't been taught in the churches we have attended, until now. (Thank you Bro. Wayne for bringing this in to our church!) So what is advent? Well, here's what Websters says:
Main Entry: Ad·vent
Pronunciation: \ˈad-ˌvent, chiefly British -vənt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin adventus, from Latin, arrival, from advenire
Date: 12th century
1 : the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting 2 a : the coming of Christ at the Incarnation b : second coming 3 not capitalized : a coming into being or usecomputers>
Pronunciation: \ˈad-ˌvent, chiefly British -vənt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin adventus, from Latin, arrival, from advenire
Date: 12th century
1 : the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting 2 a : the coming of Christ at the Incarnation b : second coming 3 not capitalized : a coming into being or use
So basically advent is preparing for something, counting down. It's most commonly used as Advent (capitalized) preparing for Christ. The first time, His birth. The second time, His return.
In addition to celebrating Advent at church each Sunday we have chosen to celebrate the Advent season by gathering as a family to read Scripture, sing Christmas carols & pray. We started a week late so we did two weeks in one last night.
Our first week is Hope focused.
Scripture: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Carol: "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"
Our second week is Peace focused.
Scripture: Luke 2:14-16 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
Carol: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
More to come next week.
Here are some pictures from our family Advent devotion:
You can buy these plain mini Advent wreaths at Lifeway or Cokesbury for around $12-16. If you are in our area I have four for sale @ $12/ea. You can decorate them like I did or leave it plain. You will also need to purchase a separate white Christ candle for the middle.
Afterwards we did something very spiritual, watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas together.
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