Once again, another year in the life of the global Church has come and gone, and a new year begins this Sunday. Like us, the Church follows a calendar that provides structure and rhythm, helping us experience the life and ministry of Jesus. The Church's new year begins with Advent, a word derived from the Latin “adventus,” meaning “arrival” or “coming.” It is a season that lasts for the four Sundays and four weeks leading up to Christmas. Christians across all traditions observe Advent as a time to prepare for celebrating Christ's birth on Christmas Day and for His second coming, when He will triumphantly judge the world.

During Advent, we practice various traditions such as hearing Scripture, reading devotionals, lighting candles, listening to sermons, and singing Advent songs, all to remind us of the hope, joy, peace, and love that God has given us in Christ Jesus. Beyond these communal and personal activities, I recommend three resources to enrich your journey through this season: "The Liturgical Home—Advent" by Ashley Tumlin Wallace, "Advent for Everyone" by N.T. Wright, and "On the Incarnation" by St. Athanasius. I trust these will help you make this a meaningful and blessed Advent.

As we start this new Church year, let us confidently pray the opening collect of Advent: “Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”