Advent: A Time of Waiting and Anticipation

Advent is an often-misunderstood part of the church calendar, primarily because it is often ignored. Many modern churches focus on an alternative theme surrounding Christmas for the weeks leading up to December 25, which in the church calendar has traditionally held by Advent, made up of the four Sundays before Christmas.

Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means ‘visit’ or ‘arrival’. For Christians who celebrate Advent, the season is one of waiting and anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Christ, as well as second coming of Christ. The historic significance comes from the fact that the Hebrews also waited for their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Similarly, modern Christians wait for Christ’s second coming.

Advent is an important time because it flies in the face of the secular Christmas season that is much more about consumerism than Christ. You don’t have to hear about news reports of people fighting over toys and electronics or employees being trampled as people barge into stores for Black Friday deals to know that we aren’t very patient. Advent looks at how Jesus has broken into history with his saving acts. First, in the incarnation with his birth and how he will come again. It is a hopeful, joyous time as well because of the hope that Christians have, not just because Christ already has come, but because he will come again to restore all things.

During Advent, people focus on aspects of the Christian faith that are often overlooked, like patience and waiting. How often do we look forth to Christ’s second coming? Plus, this time of preparation can make the celebration of Christmas more enriching because it prepares us think about other things. By looking to the future coming of Christ, it adds a whole new dimension to our Christmas worship experience and adds spirituality to the “Christmas spirit”.

There are many bowling green churches which celebrate the Advent season and Grace & Peace Presbyterian Church is one of them. Grace & Peace is constantly thinking, evaluating, and contextualizing the gospel. By doing so, they are more thoughtful and winsome in life, less about religiously conforming and more about hope and restoration. The hope is a new heart which begins to change from the inside out.  For the skeptical religious person answers and direction to have their lives restored and rebuilt in accordance with their creator. Grace & Peace a safe place for the religious and irreligious to process the good news of Christianity. For the Christian going through the motions, Grace & Peace is a thoughtful, gracious place not bogged down by religious duties, but freed from burden by a forgiving God. 

Grace & Peace is made up by a group of individuals who gather weekly to have their lives restored by the gospel. They are knit together by a message tailor-made for broken people — people who find it easier to pretend than to be transformed. They welcome anyone – from the religiously tired, who need a break from the spiritual treadmill, to the unchurched, who need a safe place to process the gospel message.