Worship

Extended Advent – Out of Time This year we observe an “extended Advent,” longer than the usual four weeks. While our Advent imagination is often pointed directly at baby Jesus in the Bethlehem manger, the scripture readings and prayers for Advent make clear that we’re remembering Jesus’ first coming in order to prepare ourselves for his coming again. We are training ourselves to recognize the places where Christ is already appearing in our world. An extended season of Advent can help us embrace the continuity between the ending and beginning of the liturgical year, adding depth to the Advent imagery of Christ as both longed-for child and crucified-and-risen king.