It's beginning to look a lot like...

...ADVENT!

What?

Yes, Advent. For many of us it's what comes before Christmas. And it helps us celebrate Christmas to its fullest.

Advent is the first “season” in the “Church Year,” beginning four weeks before Christmas. 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. Today the observance is much less strict and much more joyous and hopeful.

The word “Advent” consists of two Latin words: ad (to or toward) and venire (to come). Thus Advent means what it says, “to come to.” Advent's message is that God in Christ did come to the world, is coming to the world, and will come to the world again.

To explain these three “comings” we say:

1. Advent is a past experience. God did come in Christ at Christmas. The prophets' promise was fulfilled in the baby Jesus.

2. Advent is a present experience. God comes to us again even now in terms of rebirth, either for the first time, or a renewed birth in deeper dimensions of faith.

3. And, Advent is a future experience. Christ will return unpredictably at the end of the world. We affirm “He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead.” (from The Apostles' Creed)

Since Advent promises the sure coming of the Lord, our message at this time of the year 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.

So, how might we prepare?

1. With repentance. We confess and stop doing our sinful wrongs (we know what they are!) and turn to a more Godly way of life.

2. With prayer. We pray for the coming of Christ. We pray for a closeness with God in Christ. We pray that we might be saved and the whole world saved with us.

3. With patience. We know his coming may be delayed. But we watch and wait, for his coming may be sudden.

Our observance of Advent is expressed in various ways:

1. Use of an Advent wreath in our churches and homes.

2. Use of an Advent calendar for our children in our homes.

3. Use of Advent hymns, prayers, and special music.

4. Special mid-week Advent services.

5. Preparation of “Chrismons” (“Christ-symbols”) for decorating our Christmas trees.

Finally, our goals of the Advent season include:

1. To counteract the commercialism of Christmas.

2. To prepare ourselves for a meaningful Christmas through Advent observances.

3. To stimulate Bible reading in our homes and churches.

4. To stir up renewed faith and to call for a deeper, renewed commitment to Christ.

5. To think through the meaning of history in relation to Christ's second coming.

6. To give understanding and appreciation of the hope for Christian Old Testament prophecy.

7. To prepare spiritually for the second coming of Christ that we might be in a constant state of preparedness for his coming.

8. To grow in knowledge and appreciation of the ministry of John the Baptist as one who teaches the necessity of spiritual preparation for the coming of the Christ.

And that's not all! But it's enough for here and now.

Have a Blessed Advent! Then you'll definitely have a Merry Christmas!!

Kollmeyer is senior pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville.

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