This week I sent you a Christmas Card from Sara-Lee and I,hope you received it. The letter invites you to participate in Advent both by engagement and generosity. The season holds great promise for hope, peace and the establishment of Christ in hearts of Canadians.
What is Advent? The celebration of Advent started around 380AD and became part of the Christian calendar in the fifth century. There is a lot of history connected with this season. The term was first associated with the birth of Christ and therefore connected to the Christmas celebration. But the term “Adventus” was also taken in the wider sense of the “coming of Christ”and therefore expanded to include the second coming of Christ. The four Sundays leading up to Christmas have been set aside in many churches to examine the coming of Christ through the incarnation. Songs are sung as we remember His birth, victory, and that He is coming again. Some see the season connected toJohn the Baptist who prepared the way for our LORD. It’s a wonderful way to concentrate our contemplation and to purposefully avoid the busyness, worldly pressures of the season and make sure we are not buying into a false narrative of Christmas. It inspires worship, granting us a joy and perspective of hope.For CLA, we add an Advent wreath and candle lighting to each of our services. For some of our families they add an Advent calendar to family activities. In 2020 Pastor Jenni and Kids Ministry gave out Advent calendars for families to use, a wonderful tool for family discipleship.
This year our Advent theme is Jesus Unexpected. We will examine how the world was surprised by the coming of Jesus and blessed by His arrival.
- The Unexpected Promise
- The Unexpected Champion
- The Unexpected Sacrifice
- The Unexpected Destination
Phillip Yancy wrote: “Most of my struggles in the Christian life circle around the same two themes. Why God doesn’t act the way I want him to, and why I don’t act the way God wants me to.” We are often surprised by His sovereignty. Certainly, Mary was! An angel appeared to her and unexpectedly announced; “Do not be afraid,Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” And her response to this? “How can this be?” That is often our response to the unexpected work of God. Yet, in His goodness, He knows what He is doing. MayGod bless our Advent season.
