Today is 1st December, a Sunday of the Advent Month. It is the period of time preceding Christmas, beginning on whatever Sunday is nearest to Nov. 30 till 24th December.The Advent calendar is a device of early 19th-century German Lutherans who used the calendar to count down to Christmas Day and is now observed by all Christians. Here are some lovely quotes by great people on the Advent. In simple terms it means "Waiting on the coming of the Lord".
5 Facts About Advent
Here are 5 facts about Advent
- Advent is derived from the Latin word "adventus "meaning "coming"
- It is the beginning of the liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday
- Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, the Sunday from November 27 to December 23 inclusive.
- Advent calendars are a special calendars popular with children which are used to count the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas
- Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH'S FOCUS DURING ADVENT?
Advent is the first part of a larger liturgical season that includes Christmas and Epiphany and continues until the beginning of Lent. Even though Advent occurs in the month of December and is usually considered to be a prelude to Christmas, it is not simply about waiting for the birth of Christ. Advent is as much about preparing for Christ's return on Judgment Day. Indeed, the Advent season focuses on Christ's threefold coming -- past, present, and future. First, we remember the Lord's humble first coming in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Second, we give thanks for His present and continual coming to us through Word and Sacrament. Finally, we look forward with hope and longing to His second coming in glory to judge the living and the dead on the Last Day.
WHY IS ADVENT SUCH AN IMPORTANT SEASON IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH?
While the rest of secular society is already caught up in the frantic rush of shopping, decorations, parties, and other distractions, the church takes pause during Advent to contemplate the wonder of God's underserved mercy and love in Jesus Christ. Christians approach the Advent season much as expectant parents approach the months before a child is born. There are feelings of exhilaration, uneasiness, longing, and awe as the day of arrival approaches. Just as parents do everything they can to get ready and put things into good order, God's people prepare themselves at home and at church for the coming of the Lord by exercising the disciplines of Advent: confession and repentance, fervent prayer, immersion in Scripture, fasting, and the singing of the Great O Antiphons and other seasonal hymns and anthems. St. Paul's, like many congregations, conducts special mid-week Advent worship services and hands out special devotional booklets to give our members further opportunities to prepare their hearts for the coming of our Lord and Savior. The following familiar hymn verse beautifully captures our spirit of joyful anticipation and disciplined preparation during this season:
Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne
And ev'ry voice a song!
http://youtu.be/8tTZ6TcLGyI -Hark the glad sound (a typical church choir singing the advent song)
First Sunday of Advent Quotes Beginning of Christmas Season
"With the advent of DNA, we know that people have been convicted & sentenced to death who later proved not to be guilty of the crime...!!!"
Poet: Kamala Harris...!!!
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"We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give...!!!"
Poet: Winston Churchill...!!!
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"With the advent of spring & beginning of the new harvest season the creators of Abundance, our peasants, come out to the fields to sow with good aspirations & hopes...!!!"
Poet: Islom Karimov...!!!
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"How can GOD stoop lower than to come & dwell with a poor humble soul? Which is more than if he had said, such a one should dwell with him, for a beggar to live at court is not so much as the king to dwell with him in his cottage...!!!"
Poet: William Gurnall...!!!
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