God used visions and dreams to prepare His people for Jesus' first coming and to remind us of his promised return.  Our Advent Sermon Series will focus on the Visions and Dreams of Advent and call us to solemnly renew ourselves in the truth of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, as well as His promise to return.

Our church year begins with Advent, which means "coming".  It reminds us that time is linear, and we are in the time between His first and second coming.  The purpose of the church calendar is to use the passing of time to tell and retell the story of our redemption: the coming of Jesus into the world; His life, death and resurrection; and the outpouring of the Holy spirit on His people.

The origins of the church calendar are in Leviticus 23 where God speaks to Moses about the appointed feasts, including Passover, First Fruits, Pentecost, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles.  These feasts were to prepare us for the coming of our Messiah and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Messiah, our Lamb of God, was sacrificed on Passover.  He was resurrected from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits, becoming the first fruits of our coming resurrection, as Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15:20.  Then on the Jewish festival of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh.  So this Advent, may the Lord prepare our hearts for His coming!