Waiting at Advent at Our Christian School

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

We make a quick transition to Christmas in modern culture. Once Remembrance Day is through, we hastily take out the special food, music, and Christmas finery. By January the 1^st, most of it is gone and boxes are brought back down to the store room and the Christmas tunes are packed away for another year.

Our family has been reading about the end of the nations of Israel and Judah just before the 400 years that are called the dark or silent years. It’s an intensely sad read as generations of unfaithfulness of God’s people led to being conquered, and nearly snuffed out by neighbouring nations. By the rivers of Babylon a tiny remnant wept over the demise of the temple and the waywardness of God’s people. And they waited. And God was silent.

This is the leadup to John the Baptist, Mary’s angel visit, and then the shepherd’s nighttime angel chorus visit. God with us! What a joy that we can point our students at LCES to the wider, amazing story of God loving us so much that he came to Bethlehem, and has promised that he will came come again. I’m thankful for Christian education which can remind our students in very real ways that they are part of that story and will share in its joyful ending. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

SJ