As we enter the season of Advent in the church year, Pastor Nathanael Mayhew explains the origin and meaning of the word “Advent.”  Advent is the first “season” of the Christian church year, which is a time of excited waiting for the coming of Jesus.  The word advent comes from the Latin and means “coming” or “arrival”, and is used to refer to three “advents” of the promised Savior.  The first advent of Jesus began as a baby born in Bethlehem and culminated in His sacrificial death on a cross for the sins of the world.  His final advent will take place on the Last Day, when he returns from heaven in glory to judge the living and the dead.  But Jesus is also coming to us right now.  He comes to us in His Word and Sacraments to bring us from spiritual death to life through faith.  All three of these Advents are necessary for sinners.  Thanks be to God for his salvation through the advents of Jesus the Christ.  And so we pray, “Come Lord Jesus!”