Advent: A season of anticipation of what is "to Come".
In the Anglican Church we celebrate various seasons in our annual cycle of life and on Sunday, November 29th we begin the season of Advent. Since the 6th century, Advent (which literally means “coming”) has been observed by followers of Christ as a time of preparation and anticipation on three different levels.
The first is memory-focused, remembering the ancient Jewish anticipation of the coming of the Messiah that found its fulfillment in Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. In Jesus’ birth, God came to earth (Emmanuel) in human form to reveal to us the heart of God and the hope of the world.
The second aspect of Advent is personal. In Advent we anticipate and celebrate Jesus’ coming into the lives, hearts, and actions of those who have accepted him as their Lord and Savior.
The third aspect of our anticipation is future oriented. It is similar to the first as we too wait in anticipation for the promised second coming of Christ when He will return in power and glory, fully establishing the Kingdom of God.
While Advent has one eye on the future and one eye on the past, we live in a present where our needs for rescue and redemption are all too evident. This will be the primary focus of our Advent teaching this year as we consider how to prepare, to receive, and to live in Christ today. In practical ways, each Sunday we will consider what it means and what it costs to love, trust, and obey God.
As we enter into the Advent season, you will notice and experience in our Sunday worship traditions and practices that find their origins in the earliest expressions of Christianity, along with those that are absolutely contemporary to our culture. Our hope is to prepare for the Coming of Christ that we will celebrate on Christmas Eve (5:30 PM) in a way that brings to life the power and the promise of Jesus that is being offered to you as a gift.
Advent is a season that I am looking forward to.
+TJ
Anglican Mission In the Americas
The Anglican Mission in the Americas is a bold missionary strategy born seven years ago in response to a crisis of faith and leadership in North America. We are driven by a compelling vision of reaching the 150 million individuals in the U.S. and Canada who have yet to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by building communities of faith and transforming lives.
The Alpha Course
Bible Resources
The St Peter's Essential 100 Guide (a dynamic pdf)
Biblical Financial Resources:
Prayer Resources:
AMIA Prayer Ministry
The Anglican Mission invites you to join us in a call to prayer for our leaders! As God prepares to "do a new thing" (Isaiah 42:9-10a), He has called us to undergird our leaders with fervent and expectant prayer.
What's Happening in American Christianity?
Glossary
Words - and the way that we use them at St. Peter's Church