ADVENT Use example HOLY DAYS

HOLIDAYS ADVENT - Where does word come from?

AD = TOWARDS VENIRE = THE COMING

ADVENT - Looking forward to the Coming

Hoping for the coming

ADVENT SEASON - Coming of who? Jesus the Son of God

PREPARATIONS we make Getting ready for the coming.

What preparations do we make? Food, baking cleaning, decorations, presents, cards and so on.

We also think about the things we hope to get for Christmas. Hope is a word we use often at this time.

A word which we hear quite often at this time of year:-

Children "I hope I get all the toys I have asked for"

Mums "I hope the turkey's big enough"

"I hope it will fit in the oven"

Dads "I hope I can get the Christmas tree lights to work"

"I hope I don't get soap on a rope again from the mother-in-law"

Away from home

"I hope I can be at home for Christmas"

Ill "I hope I can be well enough to go to the party"

Different people, in different places have different hopes.

Some people will be hoping that "The Sound of Music" is not on TV this Christmas, others may be hoping that they will have at least some money to spend on enjoyment. While in other countries like Ethiopia many people may be hoping simply to be alive in the face of hunger and starvation.

What then is the Advent or Christmas hope? Or indeed is there any hope at all?

Well I would want to say - yes - there is Hope. Hope for us - Hope for the world. This Hope doesn't come from good food, good fun or good cheer, for if it did so many would indeed be HOPE-LESS.

The Christmas HOPE is found in the Baby born as a child, born also as the Son of God. It is Jesus who gives HOPE not just at Christmas but for all time. Whatever we may think or feel or say when we look at the world in all it's pain, Jesus' birth shows us all that God is on our side, that He is with us in all of our lives. Jesus life brings Hope since He sets us our pattern for living, Jesus' death brings Hope since even death could not destroy Him.

Hope for today and for all time. A Hope which will not fade away as all the parties, celebrating and holidays will. A Christmas Hope for all and for all time.

God Our Father In our troubled world In our busy lives In our strain and stress Show us And reveal to us all, Jesus He is your gift to us He is the Hope of the World Help us and help all in our world to live as His people and so bring Hope to all in the world. Amen

ADVENT - goes beyond Christmas and looks to a Day when Christians believe Jesus will come again to the Earth to bring love and peace to all. Lord Jesus Help us to prepare for your coming Help us to welcome you Help us to receive you our Lord and Saviour We ask you to come into our lives, into our community, into our world To bring us Love and Peace And to help us to share your Love and Peace with others. AMEN.