HOPE

Memory Verse

This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has given to us. —Romans 5:5

On this First Sunday of Advent, we light a candle to represent the hope that we have in Christ

Today, we will light the hope candle. Hope is believing that there are better things ahead. Even when we experience hard or sad things, the hope of Jesus lights our lives. All who believe in Jesus have the hope of being free from sin, experience the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit, and look forward to eternity with Jesus, which will be free from sin and sadness. As you light the hope candle today, read the verse above, and reflect on the present and future hope we have in Jesus.

PRAY

Help us, Lord, to remember the hope we have in Christ. That no matter what, the hope Jesus gives to us cannot be taken away. He has saved us and promised to come again. Thank you for this wonderful truth. Help us put our hope in You and Your promises. Christ you have come and I believe you will come again. Amen

SING

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s Strength and Consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear Desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

December 8, 2024

Faith

Memory Verse

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. —Hebrews 11:6

On this second Sunday of Advent, we light a candle to represent Faith in Christ.

Today, we light the Faith Candle. Wait for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14). Waiting is difficult. We expect everything to be at our fingertips the moment we have the desire for it. It’s a world we’re growing into and it’s addicting yet God finds ways of making us wait. Waiting and faith go hand-in-hand. Advent is about faith and waiting. What are you waiting on God for this year? Remember the years of silence as God’s people waited for the Messiah. Take time today, right now, to reflect on the fact that God’s timing is quite different from ours. The story of Jesus’ birth gives us assurance and joy because even though the waiting lingered for decades, God broke through at just the right time.

PRAY

Lord, please teach me to enjoy You and not just the blessings. Give me faith to trust you in the waiting, to be strong and courageous each day, and to continue to trust in your promises. Christ you have come and I believe you will come again. Amen

SING

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the king of angels

O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

December 15, 2024

Joy

Memory Verse

You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures. —Psalm 16:11

On this third Sunday of Advent, we light a candle to represent the joy we find in Christ.

Today, we will light the joy candle. Joy is more than just feeling happy. Joy is knowing deep in our hearts that even when we experience hard things, Jesus promises to be with us, help us, and forgive us. He also promises that life won’t always be hard - one day, we will be with Him, experiencing a peace that never ends! These promises mean we can have joy no matter what. Joy in Jesus lights up our hearts and makes us glad! As you light the joy candle today, read the verse above, and reflect on the present and future joy we have in Jesus.

PRAY

Lord, there are times in our life when we are happy and other times when we are sad, but no matter what, we can always find joy in you. Would you help us remember this today and remind us of the joy we will experience in your presence when you return? Help us also to be people of joy, spreading joy to those around us. Christ you have come and I believe you will come again. Amen

SING

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Shepherds, why this jubilee
Why your joyous strains prolong
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song

December 22, 2024

Peace

Memory Verse

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. —Isaiah 9:6

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we light a candle to represent the peace offered to us through Christ.

Today, we light the peace candle. The peace candle is called the angel’s candle because it reminds us of the peace the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born. When we think of peace, we might think of a time when no fighting is happening - but God’s peace is so much more! The grace and forgiveness we can receive through Jesus mends the broken relationship between God and us, resulting in peace. We may live in a world where sad things happen today, but the peace candle reminds us how peace has come to earth through Christ and how peace will fully come to earth when Christ returns and sets all things right. As you light your peace candle today, read the verse above, and reflect on the peace Jesus brings.

PRAY

Help us, Lord, to remember that you are our God of peace even when our world feels dark. You sent Jesus, our Prince of Peace, to bring us true and lasting peace and for this we are thankful. May we rest in the peace of Christ when we feel sad and afraid, and may we long for the day when we will experience a world of complete and everlasting harmony with You. Christ you have come and I believe you will come again. Amen

SING

Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king”

December 24, 2024

Christ

Memory Verse

See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” —Matthew 1:23

This last candle is called the Christ candle, and it is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Today, we finish lighting the Advent candles by lighting the Christ candle. The Christ candle represents the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. On this last day, we remember and rejoice in our Savior, Jesus. We celebrate how he came to earth as a lowly baby, grew up as a sinless man, died a painful death, and rose again in victory. May this candle remind us how Jesus’ grace and forgiveness wash away our sin and make us as white as snow. All of the candles we have lit this Advent season remind us how our hope, faith, joy, and peace are found in Christ alone. He came to fill us with his joy, to cover us with his peace, to cleanse us with his love, and give us a reason to hope. Christmas is all about Jesus. Come, let us adore him.

PRAY

God, we praise you for who you are and what you’ve done. We shout for joy for your grace and faithfulness to send us Jesus. Than you for giving us hope, faith, joy, and peace. All of these gifts were bought for us through your death and resurrection. We praise you for sacrificing yourself so that we could be forgiven. Christ you have come and I believe you will come again. Amen

SING

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And brought us all salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
That Jesus Christ is born