Hello Bridge Town Church and those of you joining us online, my name is Beth the Alan.

And I'm Gavin Bennett and this is the beginning of a four-part Bridge Town Daily for the Advent

Season.

Advent, while maybe new to some, is a liturgical practice that has been observed by the church

for over four centuries.

Advent comes from the Latin word Adventist, meaning coming or arrival, or more rightly

understood as the Messiah who is on his way, or the Messiah who is coming.

It is historically made up of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.

This year, it started yesterday and will culminate on Christmas Eve.

Each Sunday of Advent is meant to draw our attention to the realities of what it means

for Jesus, the Messiah, to come to our world.

It calls us to both cultivate and align our hearts with the practice of waiting and with

those who first waited for the coming Messiah.

In Advent, we both remember and anticipate.

We remember what was prophesied, promised, and realized in Jesus, and we anticipate his

return when he sets everything to right.

Our hope is that you will join us as we journey along together, as we slow down in this

often hurried and fast-paced season and practice this age-old rhythm of the church.

Classically in Advent, there are four themes that are focused on.

Love, joy, peace, and hope.

So we'll take one each week.

Each podcast will read and reflect on the theme scripturally, look at how it intersects

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