What is Advent?

The word advent means “coming” or “arrival.” In the Christian tradition, Advent is the first season of the Christian calendar and is marked by hopeful waiting for the coming of the Messiah. During early Christian history, the celebration of the first coming of Jesus was a season joined with preparation, especially for new believers as they were coming into the faith for baptism. On Christmas day, these new converts would receive the sacrament of baptism in accordance with the arrival of Jesus into the world to make all things new.

Today, Advent represents the location of the Church within these “last days” as we await the second coming of Jesus into the world. The church, like Israel before her, is in exile, awaiting the coming of the Messiah, who will free us ultimately and finally. In Advent, we look back in celebration upon Christ’s coming while at the same time looking forward in eager expectation of the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. Therefore, during Advent, we practice active, hopeful, and prayerful waiting. Additionally, Christian waiting is not lazy. Because we know God to be faithful, we join him in his work of making all things new and celebrate the victory of our King Jesus. 

Sunday, December 3 – First Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 10 – Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 17 – Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 24 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 24 – Church on Christmas Eve (11:15 am)

As our congregation "prepares him room" this December, we're encouraging our folks to work through weekly devotionals as a spiritual help. Since Advent is the beginning of the annual liturgical calendar for the church, this is a great time to set some new rhythms for spiritual practices in the home, both as individuals and families. 

Below, you see posted weekly Advent devotionals which include liturgies for adults, families & children, and activities for all Liberti Kids age groups. Even if you’ve never practiced devotionals in tu casa, start here!

 

Every year at Liberti Collingswood, we hold a giving campaign during the Advent season that we call 'For Others'––because that's what it's about!  If Jesus is the gift of the Father to others, namely to us, let's take the opportunity in a deeper way not to be for ourselves but rather for those around us.
 
This year's 'For Others' Christmas Campaign is a special one, because we're giving back to one that's so generously given to us!  Liberti River Wards in Philadelphia contains the DNA of the original Liberti church plant from two decades ago, and it is also the congregation most responsible for the creation of Liberti Collingswood.  Over the years, Liberti River Wards has given to us more total funds, more time, more prayer, and more resources than any other church within the Liberti Communion and beyond.  There's no "us" without "them!"  (And not just "us" as in Collingswood; Liberti River Wards has in fact donated upwards of $800,000 to various churches, missionaries, and works since it was founded, and all from a congregation that's never exceeded 300 people or so.)
 
Now it's time for Liberti Collingswood to send some funds the other way across the Delaware!  Liberti River Wards is on the cusp of purchasing their first permanent property for living, speaking, and serving as Jesus' very presence in their area, and we need to do our part to get them into their new space––the Portside Arts Building at Lehigh and Belgrade Streets.  (Click here for information and videos that cast a vision for how RW will utilize this building for mission.)  A major aspect of their move and renovation is a total redo of the main floor of this facility, which will be used primarily for kids' spaces, including a long-running Homework Club for at-risk kids that will be able to expand from meeting once a week  to every day.  Our goal is to raise $10,000 towards this project, and every $300 will pay for about 60 square feet of the new surface.
 
As always, our 'For Others' Christmas Campaign will run through the Christmas season, which concludes on Sunday, 1/7.  You can donate by sending designated cash or designated check to the church (“‘For Others’ Christmas Campaign”) or by giving online right now!

 

Welcoming the outsider, sojourner, and exile is one of the key components of biblical ethics, and we have an opportunity to let that rubric hit the road on Sunday afternoon, 12/17, at Fervent Church (904 Cooper Rd, Voorhees Township, NJ 08043).  Come and serve at their Refugee "Grocery Store" for families and individuals primarily from Afghanistan, Burma, and Syria.  To serve day-of, you can arrive at Fervent for as much time and as many "shifts" as you'd want to spend: setup runs from 1pm to 2pm, the "grocery store" itself stretches from 2pm to 4pm, and cleanup occurs afterwards.  (Text Lauren Giacone at 856-816-4517 by noon on Saturday, 12/16, if you'd want to be part of the headcount for pizza  during the setup hour on 12/17.)  You can also drop off food donations on 12/16––click here for a list––to the home of Lauren's parents (107 N. Brookfield Rd. Cherry Hill NJ) between noon and 3pm or do the same at Fervent on 12/17 between 1pm and 1:30pm.

SERVICE TIMES

Sundays at 11:15am

839 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ 08108

Liberti Church Collingswood