The Season of Advent
"Advent" means coming or arrival. This word has a double significance, as in Advent we celebrate Christ's coming into the world and look with longing for his coming again. The season of Advent begins with an emphasis on final things (eschatology). We watch and pray with expectant hope for the establishment of God's justice and the return of the Prince of Peace. As the weeks of Advent progress, the focus shifts to thanks and praise for the birth of the one who has already come - Jesus Christ our Savior.
The origin of the season of Advent is uncertain. It may have been patterned after the season of Lent as a period of penitence before Christmas, or as a time of preparation for baptism at Epiphany. The duration of Advent was, in some times and places, as long as six or seven weeks. The Revised Common Lectionary still anticipates the themes of Advent in the final three weeks of the Christian year, including Christ the King / Reign of Christ. This feature of the lectionary allows preachers and worship planners to get a head start on Advent before it is eclipsed by preparations for Christmas.
COLORS: purple or blue
- from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship (2018)
The origin of the season of Advent is uncertain. It may have been patterned after the season of Lent as a period of penitence before Christmas, or as a time of preparation for baptism at Epiphany. The duration of Advent was, in some times and places, as long as six or seven weeks. The Revised Common Lectionary still anticipates the themes of Advent in the final three weeks of the Christian year, including Christ the King / Reign of Christ. This feature of the lectionary allows preachers and worship planners to get a head start on Advent before it is eclipsed by preparations for Christmas.
COLORS: purple or blue
- from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship (2018)