The word ADVENT is a Latin word - "ad" = to and "vent" = come, the arrival of a notable person or thing.
It’s the first season of the church year where we remember Jesus coming to us and that Jesus will come back one day.
We are reminded of the beauty of God coming to us and coming for us. It is of high significance, because we wouldn’t be able to go to Him if he hadn’t first come to us. We know God because he makes Himself known. We can know Him, because we’re not trying to make up a concept of who God might be, but he has come to us to show us who He is. That is actually amazing!
In Advent we also remember that Jesus promised that he would come again, that one day He will renew all things. We wait for that moment with expectation, but we also live fully knowing that He is already with us.
The coming, advent, reminds us that Jesus coming into our reality as a baby means that we are not alone whatever we are going through. It reminds us that this baby became a man, lived, and died for us. He invited us to be renewed in Him. We are also hopeful that this baby, loving God-man, Emmanuel, God with us, will come again and make everything right. That gives us confidence, hope and comfort regardless of our circumstances.
Enjoy this season as we prepare for Christmas!
Rev Nico Ohlsson
Vicar, St Paul's Howell Hill
ADVENT LITURGY FROM THE METHODIST CHURCH
Gift-giving God,
may Advent be for us a time of giving and receiving
Lord God of this Advent season,
of every season, every day, minute and second,
give us, we pray, the gift of peace in this season of Advent.
Bring peace to the world, but also bring peace within each of us.
Gift-giving God,
may Advent be for us a time of giving and receiving
Lord God, we give ourselves afresh to you as we step into Advent.
Let us iron the crumples and the creases from our lives so that we may be the best gift that we can be.
Gift-giving God,
may Advent be for us a time of giving and receiving
May we start today and not wait to become, and to be, the person you want us to be, so that we can give the best that we can of you and ourselves, to those around us.
Gift-giving God,
may Advent be for us a time of giving and receiving.