As the Thanksgiving holiday ends and we enter December, many of us eagerly anticipate putting up Christmas trees, buying presents, hanging lights, taking pictures with Santa, and the various fun rituals that come with Christmas time. Yet, as Christians, we believe this season is also about a deeper more transformative remembrance and anticipation…
Long before the numerous American Christmas traditions, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas have been known by Christians as Advent. Not a word we find ourselves using often, the language of “Advent” comes from the Latin and Greek words for Jesus’ threefold coming or arrival: his historical incarnational dwelling among us, his ever-present coming into our hearts by the Spirit, and his awaited coming in glory. As Christians, Advent reminds us that we are a people formed by God’s past, present, and future work.
Our various scripture readings on the first Sunday of Advent speak to this threefold remembrance and anticipation of Jesus’ coming. Jeremiah reminds us of God’s incarnational promise or a righteous Branch of David. Paul encourages us in 1 Thessalonians that Jesus is continually coming to us to strengthen our hearts to love one another and grow in holiness. Finally, both Paul and Luke remind us that we still eagerly anticipate “the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” and the day we will stand before the Son of Man.
Speaking for myself, it is not uncommon that the busyness of the “Christmas season” eclipses these beautiful Advent truths of remembrance and anticipation. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas traditions and rituals. But as the year comes to a close, and I find exhaustion setting in, Advent reminds me that God is for us. He is Emmanuel, God with us. God has sent his son to dwell among us and to be our righteousness. Jesus comes to us even now to strengthen our hearts with love. Good News, not even death can separate us from God’s love as we await Jesus’ coming with all the saints.
My prayer for St. David’s is that this would be a season that we remember and anticipate Jesus’ threefold coming and allow it to transform our hearts and lives. Over the course of these next four Sundays, we will have four intergenerational events for adults, children, and families to help us remember and anticipate together:
On Sunday, December 1st in Allen Hall at 10:30 a.m. we will make Advent wreaths. Learn more and sign up here.
On Sunday, December 8th in the Harrison Room at 10:30 a.m. we will learn about St. Nicholas and Santa and how the one became the other. Learn more here; no registration required.
On Sunday, December 15th in the Harrison Room at 10:30 a.m. we will have a Christmas Around the World celebration. During this time, we will learn about the beautiful ways that various cultures anticipate Jesus’ birth. Learn more here; no registration required.
On Sunday December 22nd at 5 p.m. in the Chapel (and livestreamed) we will have our annual Christmas Pageant and celebrate Jesus’ dwelling among us. Sign up by Thursday, December 5 to participate.
Please join us as we journey together and remember God’s transformative work on our behalf.
Blessings,
Elliot
Elliot VanHoy, Pastoral Associate for Youth and Adult Formation
Posted on November 27, 2024