Advent in the church is not Christmas time. Outside these walls, the culture and time are pushing us, forcing us, rushing us toward December 25th. But here, between these walls, the church is in a different time zone, in a unique dimension of space and time. You know the time by looking at the signs of the age. But, in Advent the signs of the age are difficult to discern.
Advent is a period marked by waiting, anticipating something to happen.
The word could mean that something is coming, or someone is coming. But because we cannot see into the future, because we don't know the outcome, a season of advent requires preparation so that when that moment comes you will be ready for it, ready to welcome it, ready to understand it, ready to see it. Now, for those who grew up in the church and have been through many Advent seasons, we know what is celebrated at the end of the four weeks - the birth of Christ. Advent seems like a bust, a let-down, we know the outcome. Maybe that's why we rush to the singing of Christmas carols, we know how the story ends.