Brownsboro F.U.M.C.
by Bro. Elliot

Advent, a season of four Sundays, opens the church year. The season begins on the Sunday closest to St. Andrew's Day, November 30. The observance of Advent originated in France during the fourth century. The duration of the season varied from four to seven weeks until the Bishop of Rome in the sixth century set the season at four weeks. In ancient times Advent was strictly observed: every Christian was required to attend church services and fast daily.

The word `Advent' consists of two Latin words: ad - venire, "to come to." Advent's message is that God in Christ is coming to the world. This coming may be a past experience; God did come in Christ at Christmas.

The prophets' promise was fulfilled in the Babe. A present experience, God may come to you this Christmas in terms of rebirth, either for the first time, or a renewed birth in deeper dimensions of reality. A future experience, Christ will return unpredictably at the end of the world, "He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead."

Since Advent promises the sure coming of the Lord, its message is "prepare." The Lord is coming whether the world is ready or not. For those unprepared, his coming means judgment. For those ready for his coming, it means salvation.

How does Advent suggest that we prepare?

Repentance - Forsake the sins of the world for a godly way of life. Prayer -- pray for the coming of Christ, for He shall save.

Patience - His coming may be delayed. Watch and wait, for His coming may be sudden.

The mood of Advent is expressed in the liturgical color, violet. It depicts a feeling of quiet dignity, royalty, and repentance. Violet was the traditional color of a king's robe; the coming Christ is King of kings. Advent, like Lent, is a time for solemn and sober thought about one's sins, leading to repentance. It denotes a quiet time for watching, waiting, and praying for Christ to come again, either personally or universally. An alternate color for Advent is blue, the color of hope.

Advent is a time to become aware of one's sins. Traditionally, Advent is a penitential season, originally known as the "Winter Lent." This mood of sobriety is expressed not only in the litergical color, violet, but in the music of Advent hymns like "O Come, Emmanuel."

Advent stresses not so much fulfillment as anticipation of fulfillment: the Lord is coming! Christians have great expectations of Christ's coming again. As a family looks forward to a son returning from a war and as a bride anticipates her wedding day, so a Christian looks forward with joy to Christ's coming. Yet, this is a different kind of joy, a joy of hope and amid solemnity. It is the quiet joy of anticipation and not the joy of celebration. Of a past event, this type of joy is expressed in the Advent hymn: "Joy to the World, the Lord is com(ing).

Increasingly the church is beginning to observe Advent seriously as a vital and necessary time of preparation for a meaningful, spiritual Christmas.

May you and yours have a Christ filled Christmas season.