This coming Sunday we will be lighting the first candle on this year's Advent Wreath.
It is perhaps ironic that having grown up in churches where Advent wasn't 'a thing', I now have to do school assemblies or speak to groups of adults who come from a multi-denominational background about topics like Advent and the Festival of Christ the King.
So what is Advent?
Advent is traditionally a time of waiting and preparation for Christmas. It is recognising and identifying with God's people of old who waited for the coming of the Messiah - and it is also a recognition of the fact that as God's people today we wait for the Second Coming - and we prepare our hearts in the light of this truth.
At a time when the shops on the high street and online have been gearing us up for Chistmas for weeks already it is perhaps more important than ever that we take time to prepare properly for Christmas - not in the sense of making sure that the decorations are ready, and the tree is ready, and the food is ready, that the presents are ready - but in the sense that our hearts and minds are ready.
Many different organisations provide resources that will help prepare for Christmas throughout Advent - here are just two.
There is the Advent Challenge from the Bible Society.
Scripture Union's WordLive have daily videos throughout Advent.
