2009
Advent Devotionals

From our pastor.....

Welcome to the season of Advent!

First Baptist Church has a rich heritage of using these days before Christmas to prepare our minds and hearts for the celebration of the birth of Christ. In addition to the worship experiences at church, this Devotional book will be an excellent way for you to move through these holy days of preparation.

Advent comes from the Latin word meaning “to come.” This “coming” has three dimensions; (1) the coming of Jesus in the flesh at Bethlehem; (2) the coming of Christ into our hearts in the present; and, (3) the “Second Coming” of Christ in glory at the end of time. The Season of Advent includes the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. These days form a special time for us to prepare for the coming of Christ in all of these dimensions.

This year is the 25 th Anniversary of the Living Christmas Tree. Our church is also in the final days of our Bicentennial Anniversary as a church. The convergence of these two anniversary celebrations led us to think that the Advent Devotional Book should be filled with memories of yesterday during this special year.

Throughout the pages of this book you will read about memories of previous presentations of the Living Christmas Tree. Let these stories be a celebration of the long and rich history of this gift to the city by First Baptist Church. More importantly, let these moments of devotion each day draw you closer to The Child of Christmas.

With your Bible and this booklet in hand . . . I invite you to make your way to the manger to worship The Child of Bethlehem!

David W. Hull