Advent

The Church just began its new year with the start of the Advent season. Advent helps believers prepare for the coming of Christ. Some people ask, “Why should we prepare because Christ already came into the world?” This fact is true, yet preparing helps us to prepare our own lives to celebrate the real message of Christmas. That is, God came in the world to be with us and save us in the person of Jesus.

This Advent the Church will focus on aspects of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. This week it’s suggested that we seek ways to be believers that live in hope. You may want to think about ways in your life that you can be more hopeful or bring a sense of hope to someone else. Encouraging a friend that feels down, affirming a family member or asking God to help you with future or present plans are ways to live in hope this week and prepare for the coming of Christ. You may also go see the movie, The Nativity Story, to get a better understanding of the event that believers hold so important.

The challenge for us is to take time to prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming. In our culture which is focused on buying gifts and entertaining, it’s easy for the spiritual side of Advent to get lost. The Church reminds us to stay connected to God, recount the events of our Christian history and let Jesus be born in new ways into our own lives.

Eden Foord, Director