Today we begin our season of Advent, which is the Christian season of preparation for Christmas.  The word “advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “visit.”  In the Advent season, we keep in mind both “advents,” both “visits” of Christ, the first when Christ came to us in Bethlehem and the second when He will come again.

Because Christ has already come to us once and brought light into this world, the white Christ candle has already been lit and will remain lit the entire Advent season.

Our Advent theme this year is “Let There Be Light!”  All throughout Scripture God is said to be light and to radiate light and to shine light, overcoming the darkness in our world and in our hearts.

Today we light the Candle of Hope and take our Scripture from Genesis 1:1-3,

¹ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. ³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

 

From the very beginning of time, God has been the Giver of Light.  With the mere power of His speech, God spoke four simple words, “Let… there… be… light,” and instantaneously light burst forth for the first time ever.  The darkness over the face of the deep didn’t stand a chance.

That same God is living and working this Christmas.  Where there’s chaos, God brings order and peace.  Where there’s emptiness, God brings fullness and blessing.  Where there is darkness, God brings goodness and light.  And with this light comes hope.  We have hope today and everyday because we have light, but not only because we have light, but more importantly because we have the Giver of Light who has given us Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

And so we light the Candle of Hope.  As the light fills the darkness, may hope fill our hearts!  From our family to yours, “Merry Christmas!”

(Light the 1^st purple candle)