Today we begin our season of Advent and light the first candle, the Candle of Hope. Coming from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “a visit,” Advent is the Christian season of preparation for Christmas.  In the Advent season, we keep in mind both “advents,” both “visits” of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come.

Our Advent theme this year is “A Stained Glass Baby Book.”  Many of our mothers kept a baby book with details and highlights from our first few years of life.  In our Advent season, we will walk through some of the details and highlights of the most glorious baby ever born.

When is the baby due to be born? That is a question all mothers and families want to know.

Today we look at Jesus’ due date as we read the promise of His birth in Isaiah 9:1-2, 6:

¹ But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. ² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone… ⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Brothers and sisters, although God’s people didn’t know the exact date when the Messiah Christ would be born, they knew the date would come because God had promised it would come.  They hoped in the unfailing promise of God.

And while that hope was fulfilled with the birth of Christ, we patiently wait in hope for Christ to come again. From our family to yours, we hope you have a Merry Christmas!