Christmas... Make It Make SenseSample

Advent... Just A Piece Of Chocolate?

Advent… what’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “Advent”? Perhaps it’s the chocolate advent calendar that keeps you going through the cold month of December? Or maybe the advent candles lit at the beginning of each week in December? A mug of hot chocolate and your Christmas socks? Endless mince pies? Or could it be the excitement of finally cracking out the Christmas decorations?

Have you ever heard where the word “Advent” comes from? Perhaps, this year it could have more of an impact on you than just providing a comforting bite of chocolate on a rainy day before school.

Let’s take a deeper dive.

Did you know one of the earliest recorded prayers of the Church is found in our scripture today? The Aramaic word ‘Maranatha’ literally means ‘Come, Lord Jesus’. The Latin word ‘adventus’ (where we get the word ‘advent’ from) also means ‘come.’ Throughout history, Advent has signified a time when Christians prepare for and remember the real meaning of Christmas. It has been a time of waiting, looking, longing and inviting Christ to come into our lives and the world once more. It’s when Christians pause, intentionally and purposefully resting in, hoping for, and remembering Him.

We’d love to encourage you (yes, even on our very first day together) to think about His birth over 2,000 years ago and His return to come. We’d also love to challenge you to take five minutes to be still in silence and pray that prayer, “Maranatha.”

“Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus. As I turn my thoughts to think of someone who may need your love today, I name them before you now, and I pray, Come, Lord Jesus. I pray in my life, with the fun and challenging things I may face today, that you would Come, Lord Jesus”.