Are you ready for Christmas?
Advent is the beginning of the church year, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve. Purple is historically the colour of Advent, representing penitence and fasting, but also royalty, to welcome the coming of King Jesus. The meaning of the word Advent is that of a ‘coming’ or an ‘arrival’.
The whole focus of the season of Advent is in the celebration of the birth of Christ (the first advent), and the expectation of the return of Christ (the second advent). This season celebrates the truth about God in the coming of Christ as a baby. Through this, all of creation may be restored in its relationship with God.
The Advent season has the spirit of expectation, anticipation, preparation and longing. There is also the hope that the Messiah, the anointed one, will come to bring peace and righteousness to the world. Advent is a celebration, a time of joy and happiness as we await the coming of the king. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world is to reveal God and his grace through Jesus’ life, teaching, suffering, death and resurrection. To reflect this, Advent was originally a time of repentance similar to the season of Lent. Advent is also a time for reflection – to review the Old Testament stories and see how God uses ordinary and imperfect people to bring his plans to fruition and glory to his name.
Lutheran Tract Mission (LTM) have several resources to help you prepare for Christmas and explore the season of Advent. Explore the LTM website at www.ltm.org.au and search for ‘Advent’ to find these resources.
‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6).
Anne Hansen is Lutheran Tract Mission’s Tract Development Officer.
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