Advent: Birthing A New Creation

You likely remember the story of Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee who wanted to understand the source of Jesus’s nature and power. He took to the shadows one night, seeking Jesus for some answers. When he finally met Jesus, Nicodemus was taken aback by Jesus’ peculiar response, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…that which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” Jesus was inviting Nicodemus to believe that earthly things were becoming heavenly things simply by accepting Jesus—God in the flesh. 

You may wonder, what does this story have to do with Advent? At the heart of this story, Jesus speaks of heaven and earth becoming one new creation. It’s a birth story, and Advent is a birthing season. 

What is Advent?

The Christian calendar moves in a cyclical rhythm around the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It’s a transformative pathway of aligning earthly time (Chronos) with God’s time (Kairos) toward embodying the cruciform life. 

This liturgical path mimics a pilgrimage, and Advent is the point of entry. This journey begins right in the messy middle, where heaven and earth transcend into one moment of great anticipation—the birth of Jesus.

This 4th-century Latin word, Advent, means “coming” or “arrival.” The early church established this season to both remind us of the significance of Emmanuel and point us toward the need to keep waiting and watching for Christ’s second coming. Hope is born through the advent of God dwelling among us. It is the beginning of heaven and earth birthing into one new creation. 

How do we approach Advent?

Advent is a season of paradoxes: the here, but not yet Kingdom of God, light and dark, joy and sorrow, life and death, bondage and freedom. The beauty of this season is that it holds all the tensions we experience in life. Our pilgrimage begins with God entering our authentic, broken realities, offering forgiveness and hope, and then inviting us to partner in preparing for the birth of a new Kingdom made of heaven and earth. Until then, we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” 

Historically, Advent is a penitential season of preparation that follows these four spiritual movements:

1. Anticipation, waiting, hope, and watching for Christ’s return. What longings are stirring in my soul that I hope Christ will fulfill in his second coming? 

2. Paying attention and waking up because it’s time to repent. Are there sins, or attachments, in my life that I need to confess and repent from to be reconciled to Christ and others? 

3. Preparation, and turning our hearts to wisdom and faithfulness. In what ways can I prepare to partner with Jesus toward birthing his Kingdom on earth? 

4. Openness to Christ through my embodied “yes” to make room. How does God want to dwell in me and make me a new creation for his glory? 

Advent with Global Trellis

This year, Global Trellis invites you to wonder with us: What does God long to birth in me through Christ? 

We will be offering an Advent calendar to navigate you on a pilgrimage with Jesus through the here, but not yet. If you’re not familiar, Advent calendars often come with a little door for you to open each day. We’ve made you your very own, digital Advent calendar with a little something for each day.

We hope that God will meet you in your longings, guide you toward repentance, and prepare your heart to receive the new life God desires to birth in you this Advent season. 

Here’s a sneak peek of the Advent rhythm you’ll find on the Advent calendar.

—Sunday: We will light our Advent candles with a simple prayer

—Monday: Meditation Mondays with guided prayers 

—Tuesday: A focus on Breath Prayers

—Wednesday: A mid-week Centering Prayer practice

—Thursday: Interactive journal prompts with the Advent movements

—Friday/Saturday: An examen for noticing