2010 Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Devotions

• Introduction - Rev. Emily Berman D’Andrea
• First Week of Advent - Rachel Jones
• Second Week of Advent - Roland McElroy
• Third Week of Advent - Rachel Russell
• Fourth Week of Advent - Rob Hunter
• Christmas Eve - Nancy Mitchell
• Christmas Day - Bruce Douglass
• First Sunday of Christmas - Jim Scopeletis
• Second Sunday of Christmas - Jerry Hopkins
• Epiphany of the Lord - Bob and Cathy Gaugler

Download the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Devotional Booklet

ADVENT – CHRISTMAS – EPIPHANY
Rev. Emily Berman D’Andrea

Come, hope, expect, wait—these are all words that help to describe the season of Advent. The word Advent when translated from the Latin, means coming or arrival and it describes the season that immediately precedes Christmas. There are four Sundays in Advent which all fall before Christmas Day. The season of Christmas lasts for twelve days. The twelve days of Christmas begin on December 26 and end on January 6, Epiphany. Epiphany is a transliteration of a Greek verb and means manifestation or appearance. On Epiphany the church proclaims Christ Epiphanes. This day marks the first manifestation or appearance of Jesus to the Gentiles (the magi).

During the Advent season when we light our Advent candles and open up the doors on our Advent calendars, we are preparing for something wonderful that is to come. We are preparing not only for Christmas and the birth of Jesus and the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles but we are also preparing for the second coming—the coming of Christ as Judge at the last day. Advent is the celebration of the promise that Christ will bring an end to all that is contrary to the ways of God.

That is indeed something for which we need to get ready! We prepare and we wait and hope with great expectation for the One who is to come—and that One is not just anyone, that One is the Christ who will bring an end to all that is contrary to the ways of God!

This book is a tool to help us prepare, wait and hope with great expectation. The readings listed are the readings from the lectionary. Our prayer is that this book will help all of us to experience the hope, delight and wonder of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Share it with your family or with a friend or use it for your personal devotional time as you prepare and as you wait.

Wait for the Lord whose day is near.
Wait for the Lord keep watch take heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbchHpbJxV4

Next - First Week of Advent >>

Updated March 13, 2011