Advent

This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent- a period of preparation extending over the four Sundays before Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin advenio, ‘to come to’,

and refers to the coming of Christ.

We typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also a period of preparation much like Lent, with prayer and penance. The purple colour is associated with Advent, which is the colour of penance. How lovely to see the Jacarandas in full purple bloom,

 just in time for Advent.

It has been a challenging year, and we don’t know what Advent or Christmas will look like. Will numbers be increased for us to gather in churches, or will we be gathered in front of a computer to prepare for the arrival of Christ?

We do know one thing:

God will be with us no matter what.

We need to put our trust in God.

It is where we find HOPE!