Advent

Today is the second Sunday of Advent, and our church has included this great explanation of Advent in the bulletin each week: "The word 'advent' means 'coming.' The entire Old Testament period was used by God to prepare His people for the coming or advent of the Messiah. Many churches celebrate the Season of Advent beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and continuing through Christmas Eve. Referring to the 'coming' or 'arrival' of Jesus Christ, there is a three-fold meaning of the term advent: (1) the advent of our Lord in the flesh at Bethlehem on the first Christmas; (2) the advent of the Lord by His Word and Spirit here and now; and (3) the advent of our Lord when He shall return visibly in glory at the end of history. The theme that runs throughout is thanksgiving for what God has already accomplished, joy in what God is presently doing, and hopeful anticipation of what God yet will fulfill." Funny Luke-ism: Following the worship service this morning, we had a congregational meeting. They asked parents to get the kids out of the nursery and return to the meeting. Shane went downstairs and brought Luke and Jackson back up. They came in and sat down with me, and I whispered hello to Luke. He said hey and then I heard him gasp. "That's a big cross, Mama!" he whispered as he observed, I guess for the first time, the cross that hangs on the wall in the front of the church. He was very quiet and well-behaved during the meeting. Maybe he's almost ready to sit in on part of the service with us.