WEEK ONE: HOPE
We light this candle to remember all the prophets of old that God sent to tell us of Christ coming.
We light this candle to remind ourselves that many people are still waiting for the coming of Christ in their lives.
We light this candle to remind ourselves that as Christ was foretold to come in the past, so he is foretold to come in the future and we, the church, await his Second Coming.
The scriptures do not give us a specific date of Chris’s birth, but they do give us hints in the book of Luke.
“There were shepherds watching their sheep at night.” (Luke 2:8)
Bethlehem is in a dessert climate. It has cold winter nights and cool summer nights. Shepherds often took their sheep out to graze on summer nights because it was too hot to graze them during the day. So many people think that Christ was born in the summer months.
So why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? In ancient Rome there was a celebration called “Winter Solstice.” This was a celebration of the seasons. The celebration of Winter Solstice consisted of incantations beseeching the Sun to return and shorten the winter.
So, the ancient church substituted the “Son of God” for the “sun of the cosmos” in their winter celebrations. The early church developed Advent as a response to Winter Solstice. Advent is a time the church sets aside to prepare the Christians’ heart for the coming of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. An inscription on a sun dial found in on an old church describes it best when it says,
“For this reason, the church does not number her days or measure her seasons so much by the motions of the sun as by the course of our Savior. Who being the true sun of righteousness, began to rise in our world.”
So, Christians set up advent as a time to prepare themselves for the coming Christ as their savior. As the ancient Romans waited expectantly for the coming of the earthly sun to drive away their darkness, Christians prepare themselves for the coming of Son of God, to pierce through their darkness.
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
In Jesus we have a hope to see beyond this present darkness.
TESTIMONIAL: “PAYING ATTENTION”
I preface these answers with this:
Until recently, I had never had any religious beliefs or upbringing. In other words, I never considered myself a believer in the Bible or Jesus Christ. I have always considered myself a spiritual person, but not religious.
When was a time you felt Hope in a difficult situation?
Answer: When I was 17 or 18 years old I worked on a dairy farm as a laborer. One day, during harvest season, we had to move the freshly cut corn, that was chopped into silage and loaded into a silage wagon. A silage wagon has a large conveyor belt with metal rods at the front end that rotate to break up any clumps of silage before being blown upwards into a chute and then into a 30-foot silo for storage.
At the start of the process my job, as well as another laborers’ job, was to make sure the conveyor belt wasn’t moving too fast and push too much silage through the metal rods that have the potential to jam the rods and stop the whole process and break the machine. We stood on either side of the silage wagon to make sure the process was done. My teammate’s side had all the controls to start and stop the machinery. We were also to make sure that not too much silage gets into the blower before sending it up into a 24” inch tube and into the top of the silo 30 feet above. Being early fall, I wore a long sleeve sweater with an oversized flannel work coat to stay warm. The sleeves came down below my fingertips, so I would roll them above my wrists for better dexterity. We used pitchforks to break up any of larger clumps that the metal rods could not handle. The process takes teamwork, constant visual scanning, and quick reflexes. During the third wagonload, there was a very large clump of silage coming toward the rods that was far too big for the rods to manage.
I reached up with the pitchfork to break it up but didn’t realize that the sleeves of my work coat had unrolled to my fingertips and hanging low. The rods caught the material of the sleeve and started pulling me into them. I immediately threw the pitchfork aside and tried jumping away from the silage wagon. I was caught and seconds counted. I don’t know why, but I didn’t shout for my teammate to cut the power. I thought I could get out of the situation on my own. I remember thinking “I hope he’s not distracted and cuts the power.” I also remember thinking that I was not going to survive this. Then the metal rods stopped rotating, the conveyor belt stopped moving, and the blower stopped blowing the silage into the silo. All of this happened in a 60 second time span. At that moment I chalked it up to my teammate paying attention, his quick reflexes, and a whole lot of good luck. In these recent months, as think back on it, I wonder which “he” was I hoping was not distracted. My teammate whom I had a good working relationship with, or Jesus who was paying attention? I hadn’t been injured, but I certainly had an experience that made me reconsider how safety in farm work is very understated.
Submitted by Gene Albee
WEEK TWO: PEACE
We light this candle to remind ourselves that both rich and poor greeted Jesus when he came to earth.
We light this candle to remind ourselves that some sought to kill him while others sought to worship him.
We light this candle to remind ourselves that we should seek to preserve His light in our lives and not to extinguish it.
We light in candle in prayer, asking God that we may be found seeking Christ when He returns.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” Luke 2:8-9
The Shepherds have much to teach us about faith. Some things to know about shepherds. They were usually Teenagers or Children. They were not the Important members of their family as shown in 1 Samuel 16:12 when David was the last person to be shown to prophet when Samuel asked to see Jessie’s sons. Although Shepherds supplied Jerusalem with sheep for their sacrifice, shepherds were not allowed in the temple because they were ‘unclean.’ The light the shepherd saw terrified them because they knew they were unclean.
The glory and light that Shepherds saw was the same glory that appeared to Moses when he was on Mount Sinai that made his face glow in Exodus 19 and it was the same glory that made the priest tremble in the temple in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.
The angel’s first words were ‘fear not” which communicated peace with God and not fear.
Peace encourages us in faith to seek out Christ.
“INFANT HOLY, INFANT LOWLY” – A Polish Carol
“Infant Holy, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall,
oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all. Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping: shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new
saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of the Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you. Christ the babe was born for you.”
Submitted by Lori Bourret
WEEK THREE: JOY
We light this candle to remind ourselves that God sent messengers to earth to tell us that Jesus was coming.
We light this candle to remind ourselves that even though Mary and Joseph were frightened, they still obeyed God.
We light this candle as a symbol of our heart’s desire to serve God.
We light this candle, in prayer, asking God that we would be found serving God when Christ comes again to the earth.
“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
In recent Christian movies and books, fictious writers have portrayed Mary and Joseph as a couple that is deeply in love. But the bible does not use romantic language to describe Joseph. He is described as a “righteous man.” Romance can often be self-serving and sentimental. Righteous motivations are justice, redemption, and mercy.
Joesph considers “putting Mary away quietly” as opposed to publicly shaming her which may have exposed her to violence. By not shaming Mary publicly, Joseph opens himself up to the shame of having a fiancé who betrayed him. Joseph makes this decision before he hears the proclamation of the angel.
But Joseph makes a stand for principle against this inhumane treatment of women. His charter shines brightly in his silence. And when the angel speaks, Joseph is revealed to be a man of faith as well as a righteous man.
But the angel’s proclamation removes all doubt. The Child is from God. He will be named Jesus, which means in Hebrew, ‘Jehovah is helper,’ or ‘Help of Jehovah or Jehovah is Salvation.”
In God’s proclamation our fears are comforted, and God clarifies His purpose.
TESTIMONIAL: “SURPRISED BY JOY”
“You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.” (Psalm 4:7, NLT)
I never expected that a simple dinner with friends would change our lives. In the fall of 2019, Paul and I visited some old friends, and as we chatted in their living room, their sweet little Malshi dog, Emily, curled up beside me. She let me pet her for what felt like hours, and on the drive home, I turned to Paul and announced, “We need a dog!”
Over the next few days, my desire for a dog grew as I sensed that God was in this! And it had to be not just any dog, but a Malshi, just like Emily. We found an Amish farm in Lancaster, PA, that had Malshi puppies. On the long drive there, Paul surprised me with a question: “What if we get two dogs?”
That’s how Benji and Zoey joined our family. Two little dogs brought more laughter and fun than we could have imagined. Their playful antics and the sight of them snuggled together melted our hearts daily. Yes, caring for two dogs takes effort—walks, feeding, grooming—but the joy they bring far outweighs the work. What surprised us most was how Benji and Zoey opened doors to new friendships. Walks around the neighborhood led to conversations with neighbors we’d never met. During the pandemic, trips to the dog park introduced us to the owners of two Chihuahuas, and those casual meetings blossomed into regular get-togethers. One day, Paul met someone on a walk who asked about our church—and now this family is part of our congregation.
Six years ago, we had no idea what we were getting into. But God knew. He created space in our lives to care for two of His creatures, and in doing so, He filled our days with joy, comfort, and new relationships. We became “the couple with the two energetic little dogs,” and through that simple identity, God brought unexpected blessings into our lives.
There is room for joy and delight, even in the midst of the serious work of being prayerful and watchful servants in the kingdom of God. Sometimes, the Lord surprises us with gifts we didn’t know we needed. For us, it was two little dogs. For you, it might be something entirely different. Are you open to the unexpected ways God might bring joy into your life?
We are grateful for Benji and Zoey—and for the God who delights in surprising us with joy.
“A Prayer For Unexpected Joy”
Gracious God, Thank You for the surprising ways You fill our lives with joy. Help us to recognize Your gifts, even when they come in unexpected forms. Open our hearts to the blessings You bring through simple moments, new friendships, and the love of Your creatures. Teach us to delight in Your goodness and to share that joy with others. May we always trust that You know what we need, and may we be grateful for every blessing—big or small—that draws us closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Submitted by Donna Yanosy
WEEK FOUR: LOVE
We light this candle to remind ourselves that there was no room for Jesus when He came to earth as a newborn infant.
We light this candle to remind ourselves that we must find room for Christ in our lives today.
We light this candle, in prayer, asking God that we would be found having room in our lives when Christ comes again.
No portion of Scripture has been as embellished as much as Luke 2:7
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and placed him in a manager, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
In Christmas lore, we have added a warm stable to this scene with friendly animals that have maternal human characteristics. We now tell our young children that a friendly innkeeper, after gently turning Mary and Joseph away, cleaned out his stable so Mary and Joseph would not have to spend the night in the cold outdoors. That image gives us a nicer picture than Mary giving birth in the middle of a field or in a manager in a public family room or town square. But Scripture gives us no picture of a private indoor stable. We have added that shelter. We do not like the picture of the holy family being homeless.
But the reality is that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus must have looked like an abandoned young family at Jesus’ birth. There must have been some surprise among the shepherds, to see the child that angels praised living in this abandoned state. But God did not abandon His only son. He provided, but not in the way that we would have expected Him to provide. Worshiping the Christ child born in a manager allows us to look differently at the children born in low estate in our world.
When we contemplate Bethlehem and the homeless state of Mary and Joseph, we must contemplate the oppression in our world today. We also contemplate that God’s provision is not always the way that we expect Him to provide.
Christian, God’s love, and provision for us looks quite differently than the provision that we anticipated.
“CAROL AT THE MANGER” Composed by Marty Haugen
“Holy Child within the manger, long ago yet ever near, come as friend to every stranger, come as hope for very fear.
As you lived to heal the broken, greet the outcast, free the bound,
as you taught us love unspoken, teach us now where you are found.
Once again, we tell the story how your love for us was shown, when the image of your glory wore an image like our own.
Come enlighten with your wisdom, come and fill us with your grace.
May the fire of your compassion kindle every land and race.
Holy Child within the manger, lead us ever in your way, so, we see in every stranger how you come to us today.
In our lives and in our living give us strength to live as you, that our hearts might be forgiving and our spirits strong and true.”
Submitted by Lori Bourret
CHRISTMAS EVE: CHRIST
“PRAYER OF REMEMBRANCE”
We light this candle to remind ourselves that Jesus came to earth to heal, forgive and make a bridge between God the Father and those who trust in his name.
We light this candle to remind ourselves that just as Jesus came in the past, he comes into the lives of those who call on his name today.
We light this candle in prayer, asking God that when Christ comes again may we be found; as faithful as the prophets, as bold as the angels as seeking as the shepherd and Wiseman and with room in our hearts unlike Bethlehem.
“For to us a child is born, to us as on is given and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:5)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“For to us a child is born, to us as on is given and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:5
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
It is interesting to note that the early church did not just celebrate the one day of Christ’s physical birth: Instead, they had an extended celebration so they could allow time for preparation.
This Christian celebration was intended to be pensive and full of self-reflection and prayer. The season began with Advent on November 11 and continued until December 25. Advent was a time Christians set aside to prepare themselves for Christ’s second coming by observing the characters and events of the first coming.
Originally during this time, three masses (worship services with communion) were celebrated.
One mass celebrated Christ’s eternal birth of God before the world began; this was called “The Mass of the Incarnation.”
The second mass celebrated Christ’s birth of a human woman; this was called “The Virgin Mass.”
The third celebrated Christ’s “mystical birth in the believer’s life” and this last mass was known as “The Christ Mass.”
Christ being born in our hearts is the ultimate sign of God’s love for us.
If you want to write hit movie, write about human love that changes people’s lives and you will have a hit movie because people are hungry for love. But if you leave Jesus out, all you have is another sentimental notion that sets up expectation that can never be experience.
People need God’s love and that is why Jesus was born. Christmas is about God’s love that was born in the person of Jesus Christ to be born in our hearts anew.
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