Church of the Holy Apostles - Katy, TX
  • I'm New
  • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • The Episcopal Church
    • Staff
    • Our Vestry
    • Contact Us
    • Community Partners
  • Worship
    • Sunday Morning
    • Sermons
    • What to Expect
  • Ministries
    • Connect >
      • New Member Class
      • Small Groups
      • Serving Teams
    • Adult Ministry
    • Family
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Wednesday Night Refuel
    • Next Steps
    • Support Groups
  • Events
  • Members
    • myCOTHA
    • Give
    • Parish Resources
    • Annual Meeting
  • I'm New
  • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • The Episcopal Church
    • Staff
    • Our Vestry
    • Contact Us
    • Community Partners
  • Worship
    • Sunday Morning
    • Sermons
    • What to Expect
  • Ministries
    • Connect >
      • New Member Class
      • Small Groups
      • Serving Teams
    • Adult Ministry
    • Family
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Wednesday Night Refuel
    • Next Steps
    • Support Groups
  • Events
  • Members
    • myCOTHA
    • Give
    • Parish Resources
    • Annual Meeting

Advent: A Journey toward Christmas and Beyond!

12/8/2010

0 Comments

 
This weekend, we enter into the third week of Advent. Advent has a multi-layered meaning. For many, it simply means that Christmas is near and the lighting of the Advent wreath is a sort of "count-down" until we can get on with it and open the packages under the tree. Yet there is more to it than that. Advent is also a time when we look forward to the second coming. He who came into this world on the first Christmas has promised to come again (the First Advent). is when Christians anticipate the day when Jesus will return again (the Second Advent). Jesus promised that He would return and so we make our proclamation week after week: "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." That day will be unforgettable and full of joy when he our Lord say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world even began.” (from Matthew 25).
Advent reminds us to ‘watch’ and ‘be ready’ for that day, because we do not know when he will come again. It does no good to try to guess when that time will be since Jesus told us know one will know the day or hour. He just told us to be awake. And that's what Advent, at its best does as well, reminding us to be alert and to not be overwhelmed by the clamor around us that proclaims a different kind of Christmas (all about presents under the tree and economic stimulus!)
So how do we 'stay awake' ? Perhaps in the same way that we stay alert when we know that we will have guests for Christmas. We decorate the tree, we clean, perhaps cook and bake and certainly wait with expectation and excitement. Since Jesus will come again, we prepare and look forward to that great day. Even though we don't know the exact time, we can still fill our hearts with excitement that it will happen!
Keeping Advent as a time of preparation and expectation helps us feel a sense of celebration and anticipation. The message is clear: take hope. No matter what you face, if you follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior, there is hope. He is coming. He is coming! Let us prepare for the birth of our Lord in our own hearts and let us prepare for His coming again. Happy Advent!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    COTHA Blogs

    A place where we share our experiences and thoughts on ministry!

    Categories

    All
    COTHA Ministry Staff
    COTHA Reflections
    Devotional
    Mission: Africa
    Mission: Central America
    Mission: Local
    Mission: Mexico
    Mission: Sri Lanka
    Mission: Students
    Rector

    Archives

    October 2019
    October 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007

    RSS Feed

Church of the Holy Apostles
1225 West Grand Parkway South
Katy, TX 77494
281-392-3310
Info@cotha.or
Service Times
Sundays 8a and 10:30a
Sunday School 9:30a • Breakfast 9a


Office Hours
Monday – Thursday  9a-5p