From the Pastor: Novermber 24, 2003

     When I was a child, I didn't hear much about Advent. Most people we knew didn't do any decorating until about a week before Christmas. At church, we didn't sing carols until then either. So what's "Advent" all about? The word "advent" means "coming." Its Latin root word was used in Roman times to express anticipation of the arrival of an important person, but especially the arrival of the emperor. Such an event required special preparations to make ready. For Christians, the Advent season is a period of preparation for Christmas. The focus is on Jesus' coming - in history, in our hearts, and at his return.

     Just as "decking the halls" is part of the fun of the season, the Advent wreath helps us prepare for the thoughtful, devotional element of Christmas. It draws our attention to the real meaning of Christmas as we anticipate the coming of Christ and its awesome significance. The wreath is rich in symbolism. The circle (with no beginning nor end) represents the eternal love of God. As we light the candles over the next four Sundays, each candle will represent something looking toward the coming of Christ. Finally, on Christmas Eve, the center candle will be lit. It is the "Christ candle," representing his presence as the Light of the World.

     Let's not get so busy that we lose sight of the wonder of God coming to us in Jesus - the awesome reality that his name "Immanuel" means "God with us!" You might want to have an Advent wreath or an Advent calendar at home to help you stay clearly focused on the coming Holy Day rather than a hectic holiday.

      In joyous anticipation,

      Pastor Harriet

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