The week beginning Sunday, 29th November is the first week in Advent.  This marks the beginning of the season of the year when many families start opening Advent calendars.  Inside will be pictures of Christmas trees, holly, Christmas stockings, a robin red breast and an intimidating snowman.  Does this cover the meaning of Advent? The word ‘advent’ comes from two Latin words: coming and towards.  The Advent message is a ‘coming towards’ and can be split into three parts.  Firstly, Jesus came as a baby; secondly, Jesus is still coming to us today through the Holy Spirit and, finally, Jesus will come again in the future.  For most people in Guildford and, indeed, around the world, their understanding of Advent is the story of Jesus coming as a baby to a manger in a stable in Bethlehem.  However, the first Sunday in Advent focuses not on this, but rather on His second coming.  The Bible passage assigned to this week is the ‘signs at the end of the age’.  This is recorded in Mark’s Gospel chapter 13 and verses 24 to 37 and it focuses on a very different aspect of Advent to the common perception of Advent as a crib scene.    This Bible passage highlights that Jesus’ second coming to the earth will be very unlike the first.  It will not be as a tiny vulnerable baby born to a scared teenager in poverty but, rather, in glory and judgement on the whole earth.  Nobody likes judgement.  To be judged by an awesomely powerful and perfect God is even more terrifying.  With regard to the pictures in the advent calendar, it is probably best not to frighten children with stars falling from the sky and the solar system shaking.  However, and thankfully, Jesus has already given us one of his watertight promises: “whoever comes to me I will never drive away”.  Thank God for this.  Perhaps this is the real joy of Christmas.  God is with us, Emmanuel, and if God is with us nothing can come against us – not even an intimidating snowman!

Old Testament reading for this week: Isaiah 64:1-9

Gospel reading for this week: Mark 13:24-37

Epistle reading for this week: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Psalm for this week: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19