Tonight at 6:30pm we celebrate Advent during our second of three Wednesday evening Advent series.

Pastor Beth is again doing character portrayals with the theme “Women in Waiting” as part of our Advent celebration this year. Last week Pastor Beth portrayed Sarah, and tonight she will portray Hannah (1Samuel 1:1-20) followed by Anna (Luke 2:36-38) the third week of Advent.

The season of Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At that time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6th. Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days,” as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. The church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis, they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the church during Advent looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. To balance the two elements of remembrance and anticipation, the first two Sundays in Advent look forward to Christ’s second coming, and the last two Sundays in Advent look backward to remember Christ’s first coming.

Come join us as we celebrate the remembrance of Christ’s first coming and anticipation of Christ’s second coming.