The Changing Seasons: Advent and the Church Year.
 1. God’s Created Order – Genesis 1:14-18.
a. We are creatures of time.
b. World history is evidence of this.
c. Seasons order our days.
2. The Church Year:
a. Incorporates the life of the Church into the history of God’s salvation, daily, weekly and yearly – Acts 2:42-47.
b. Repeats God’s Word of Law and Gospel in all seasons – 2 Timothy 3:14-4:1-5
c. Teaches the whole counsel of God – Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 20:27.
d. Was not tossed out in the Reformation. Q: What other church bodies celebrate the Church Year and Advent?
e. Q: Why do you think there are churches that do not celebrate the Church Year or Advent?
3. The Season of Advent:
a. Comes from the Latin adventus = coming. Q: How many “comings” of Jesus do we speak of in Advent?
b. St. Bernard once said, “In the 1st coming, Christ comes in the flesh and in weakness; in the 2nd, He comes in Spirit and power; in the 3rd, He comes in glory and majesty; and the 2nd coming is the means whereby we pass from the 1st to the 3rd.”
c. It is a season of quiet anticipation and expectation, of readiness and hope, of expectation and patience all at the same time.
d. Origins:
i. The season of Advent originates in France and Spain in the 4th & 5th Centuries.
ii. As early as 380, the Council of Saragossa urged Christians to attend church every day from December 17th through Epiphany (January 6).
iii. Advent also developed a repentant and character, including fasting, similar to Lent.
e. Weekly themes: (One year lectionary)
i. The reading for the first Sunday in Advent was Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Q: What do you think is the central theme of that week?
ii. Today’s reading focused on signs of the end times and Jesus’ promise to return. Q: What is the central theme of today’s reading?
iii. The 3rd Sunday focuses on John the Baptist’ questions in prison, the content of his preaching and also the content of Jesus’ preaching in relation to who He is as Messiah.
iv. The 4th Sunday in Advent has either a reading from John, focusing on John the Baptist or from Luke 1 and the Magnificat (Song of Mary) at the coming of Jesus’ birth.
v. The Last week before Christmas (17-23) it was customary in the early church to pray the 7 “O Antiphons” which were later put to music in the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The seven antiphons are 7 different Old Testament prophecies of Christ. The Lutheran Hymnal #62.
4. Some Common Advent Practices:
a. The Advent wreath with 4 candles. How does this help prepare us for Christmas and focus our thoughts during advent?
b. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. Candles help reflect that - 1 Peter 2:9-10.
c. Advent Calendar.
d. Fasting.
e. Midweek services, some churches have soup suppers to gather together in community.
f. A slow progression of decorating the home and church in contrast to the world (setting up Christmas in October).
g. Celebrating the 12 days of Christmas beginning on the 25th until January 6th.
h. Advent devotions for the family and the individual.
i. Look at the Advent section of your hymnal and discover the riches of our advent hymns.
j. Q: What are some of other Advent traditions you and your family have?
The Advent of our King
Our prayers must now employ,
And we must hymns of welcome sing
In strains of holy joy.
–LSB 331:1
O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
– LSB 357:6
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