This coming Sunday, December 3rd, marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a time of waiting and watching, and a time of eager anticipation as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ child in our hearts once again. Each Sunday during Advent we light candles on the Advent wreath which focus on different themes related to Advent: HOPE, PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE. On Christmas Eve, we celebrate the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ and the meaning of that birth for our lives, for our church, and for the world. The culmination of this special season in the church year occurs on January 6th when we celebrate Epiphany, a time that observes the appearance of God through the Christ child to the Gentile Wise Men from the East.
Each year, we rehearse the drama of this season, and each year, it takes on a special meaning as we grow in our understanding of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.