Advent is the way the church prepares for Christmas. Since sometime in the late fifth or early sixth century, this season has been a time to recall the meaning of Christmas. The word Advent is from the Latin adventus, and it means "coming." Christians use this opportunity both to recall Jesus' coming to the earth as a babe in Bethlehem and to prepare themselves for his promised return to earth.
In a world where so much focus at Christmas is placed on gift giving, card sending and party attending, the season of Advent itself is a precious gift. Its purpose is to help us remember the story of a peasant girl who give birth in a stable to a child whose life, death and resurrection would change the world.
From study author Adam Hamilton in "The Journey: A Season of Reflections"
