Life is about transformation
Growing up I remember always going to Christmas Eve service. It was one of our traditions. At Christmas Eve service the final candle was lit in the wreath. The final candle is the Christ candle. This candle was lit in celebration that Christ has come. The final candle was the white candle in the middle.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 NIV Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. The focus of week 4 is love. Love. Love is a word thrown around for all sorts of things. We use it to mean all sorts of levels of things.
Well if your year has been even remotely close to mine, thinking about having joy may seem like an impossibility. With COVID restrictions the things that typically bring joy this time of year are on hold. We are social distancing, wearing masks, events are cancelled. This season is typically when families gather together. Where we
I don’t know about you but right now some peace would be nice. All around we hear people arguing and fighting. We have constant changes in what we can or cannot do based on decisions of others and it may seem like a whirlwind of chaos all around us. Yet, in the midst of this,
Tradition. Traditions at times hold us hostage to the things we have always known and keep us from experiencing new things. However traditions are also something that can ground us to our roots and what matters most, especially in difficult times. For me growing up there was something special about Advent, we would light the
Peace in a world and a time where chaos and destruction run rampant seems like an impossible idea. To the shepherds hearing the message of peace I assume that they could not even imagine the type of peace that the angels were proclaiming. They were a people who had been under oppression. And suddenly there
At Christmas time one of the most familiar songs is “Joy to the World.” Week 3 of advent, the third candle is lit to symbolize the joy that comes with this season. We as a society love the concept of joy at Christmas, however we quickly forget this and lose our joy in the midst
Today in churches all over the world, the second advent candle is lit. the candle will be lit and there will a call and response read. For me, there is something special about remembering the faith of those waiting for the coming Messiah. Growing up I did not understand or appreciate the significance of Advent.
Thanksgiving has come and gone and we are now entering into the season of Advent as we prepare for Christmas. For some the next few weeks becomes a frenzy of excitement as they prepare for giving gifts and hosting parties; however, Advent is also about slowing down and remembering why we do what we do.