ADVENT

This is the beginning of the Christian Year: the season of Advent, those four weeks before Christmas when we prepare for the coming of Christ – his first coming in humility at Bethlehem, and his second coming in glory at the end of our time. The prayers and hymns of Advent echo the message of Holy Scripture: “wake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light…. put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:11-14)

On the first Sunday in Advent we pray:

“Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to life immortal, through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Charles Wesley wrote his lovely Advent hymn in 1744:

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set your people free;

from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,

born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.