Genesis: Advent, Christmas & New Year: From Trinity, Upperville.

Rev. Jim Hammond introduces us to each of the four Sunday’s of Advent and explores their significance and traditions.

Part One - Advent Sunday Jesus is coming!

There are four Sundays in the liturgical season of Advent, a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus.

The word, "Advent," comes to us from a Latin verb, "advenio," a compound verb formed from the preposition "ad" (translated "to, or toward") and the verb, "venio," (translated, "to come").

The past participle of "advenio" is "adventus," which is best translated as "coming." Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus.

In recent years, the principal methods of marking and celebrating the season of Advent are to employ one or both of two symbols -- the Advent wreath, and the Advent calendar.

Advent calendars, which often are used in homes and have a special appeal to children, vary but typically feature twenty five "windows", one to open each day beginning on December first, and moving to Christmas. Since Christmas always falls on the 25th of December, while the Sundays of Advent have differing days and dates each year, Advent calendars do not match the liturgical calendar, but they still helping in remembering that Advent is a very special time.

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