As the Christmas season rolls around so do all the fun activities, gift exchanges, family parties and more. It’s often easy to get caught up in all the festivities that we lose sight of the real reason for the season. Advent has been one way that most churches have been encouraging their community to pause, reflect and come together in communion to talk about it.

Advent season is a time of preparation and waiting for Jesus – his birth, coming to earth in human form and his promise to return again one day. Each week of advent focuses on a different theme: hope, peace, joy, and love. As we enter the first week, the purple candle is lit to remind us to focus on hope, symbolizing the anticipation of the coming Messiah and the hope he brings to the world. 

Hope is shown on Christmas day when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and God’s Savior had sent Jesus to earth to save us from our sin. Now we can live with hope that Jesus can help us and deliver us from any need. He is the One we hope for. A verse that goes along with this week’s theme of hope is Isaiah 40:31,”Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.” 

We have hope in the Lord that he will deliver us from the sins of the world and one day return in full glory. However, for right now we can have hope that the Lord is working for our good. A verse that helps us understand this is Jeremiah 29:11,”For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” 

Next week’s advent theme is peace and having patience with those around you.  

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