"Christians believe not just in one coming of Christ, but in three."
We tend to think of Advent as the season of anticipation before Christmas—and while it is that, it’s also much more. Throughout its history, the church has observed Advent as a preparation not only for the first coming of Christ in his incarnation but also for his second coming at the last day. It's also about a third coming: the coming of Christ to meet us in our present moment, to make us holy by his Word and Sacrament.
In this short volume, priest and writer Tish Harrison Warren explores all three of these "comings" of Christ and invites us into a deeper experience of the first season of the Christian year.
Each volume in the Fullness of Time series invites readers to engage with the riches of the church year, exploring how its traditions, prayers, Scriptures, and rituals all point us to Jesus.
"The way of Advent is the way of waiting. In this guide through Advent's ancient prayers and practices, Tish Harrison Warren teaches us why we wait and how we wait for the One who was and is and is to come. Come, Lord Jesus!"
"In Advent, Tish Harrison Warren writes with her signature warmth, insight, and intelligence. Her effort to 'make Christmas weird again' succeeds from start to finish. Everything Tish writes is a must-read, and this book is no exception."
"Much like Mozart's music and Shakespeare's plays, the season of Advent satisfies at so many different levels—theologically, imaginatively, affectively, ethically, liturgically, and so on. In this beautifully compact book, Tish Harrison Warren invites readers to experience the multilevel richness of Advent and to discover thereby the full richness of the triune God. Tolle lege, friends; take up and read, and let Christ himself fill you to the fullest with a life that was and is and is yet to come."
"Like myself, many Christians in the United States today did not grow up in traditions that practiced the liturgical calendar. For us, Tish Harrison Warren's book Advent is a godsend because it makes the spirituality and practices of the season relevant and accessible. Finally, a book relating to Christian spiritual formation that is rooted in the great tradition of the church!"
"What a rich work that encourages deep discipleship, as Tish Harrison Warren invites us to remember that learning to wait with hope is central to following Jesus Christ. In this world where darkness often seems stronger than light, Warren reminds us that throughout the centuries Advent has been a time to look honestly at the darkness while attending to the light of Christ, our true hope. In this cultural moment marked by impatience, this book encourages us to receive Advent as a training in patience and hope. Christians who have long practiced Advent and those who might be considering it for the first time will find in this volume a beautiful and timely invitation to embrace it as a means of grace."
CONTENTS
The Fullness of Time: Series Preface by Esau McCaulley
1. Yearning: Three Advents of Christ
2. Longing: Four Themes of Advent
3. Crying Out: Two Prophets of Advent
4. Stirring: Four Prayers of Advent
5. Approaching: Eight Practices of Advent
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
