Slideshow image

Today marks the beginning of the season of Advent. For many of us, we know Advent as a season of anticipating the first Advent (coming) of Christ at Christmas. But, even more than Christmas, Advent is about anticipating Christ's second coming. During this season we not only wait with Israel of old for the coming Messiah, we also wait with the entire world for the restoration of all things and for our deliverance from the changes and chances of this life. As many have been quick to point out, Advent sounds a lot like 2020. In a sense, the world has been practicing a sort of secular Advent for most of the year. Voices have been crying out for deliverance.


William Blake, "The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins"

The Advent difference is this: none of our crying out would amount to anything if God had not already promised to do justice and mend brokneness. If God himself were not predisposed in kindness towards his creation, our hope would be feeble. Thanks be to God, this is not the case. Because God has promised good to us, Advent is an excercise in hope and not in despair.

As Christians, we know that just as the Virgin Mary could not bring forth the Christ on her own, neither can we bring about salvation and restoration on our own. But, just as Mary submitted herself to the will of God and allowed the Word of God to make his dwelling within her, during Advent we follow Mary’s example and ready our own hearts to be the dwelling place of Emmanuel (God with us) forever.

This is never easy. 2020 is no exception in this matter. To help, we have
will be putting out an ADVENT E-CALENDAR every day between now and Christmas. Fr. Geoff will reflect throughout the week on well-known Advent Hymns and Christmas Carols, and there will be contributions of art, poetry, and spiritual reflections from others. Each day you can 'open' the Advent Calendar either in your email inbox or right here on our website. 

Our prayer is that, as a church, we will be formed ever more into the Bride of Christ, watching and waiting for the great wedding banquet at the end of the age. And when we feel like giving up because the weight of the world is more than we can bear, it is in those moments that we pray most earnestly: 'Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!'

May this be a blessed Advent, 
Deacon Paul