The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning arrival. The season begins on the Sunday nearest November 30th (Saint Andrew's Day). Most of us grew up loving this season and, probably, thinking of it as "the Christmas season." Now that we're preachers, we're more sophisticated than that, but it's good to remember that all of our people, especially the children, are starting to build a level of excitement which will culminate on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It's also apparent to all who counsel as well as preach that there will be a small minority of people who find this season emotionally difficult. Advent continues through four Sundays preceding Christmas Eve and its purpose is as suggested, to prepare us for the arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. In a sense, of cou…