HOPE

This powerful introduction to Advent invites us into a sacred season of waiting, anticipation, and hope that transforms how we approach Christmas. Rather than rushing frantically toward December 25th, Advent calls us to pause and reflect on three profound comings of Christ: His birth in Bethlehem, His promised return as King of kings, and His personal presence with us each day. The four themes of hope, peace, joy, and love become guideposts for our spiritual journey through December. What makes this season particularly meaningful is its embrace of the tension between the 'now and not yet'—those liminal spaces in our lives where we're still waiting for prayers to be answered, for healing to manifest, for broken things to be restored. The message reminds us that even in our darkest waiting periods, we can echo the ancient cry: 'O come, O come, Emmanuel.' Through simple practices like lighting Advent candles, using devotional calendars, and intentional scripture reading, we create life habits that prioritize hope and keep our eyes fixed on the One who is our ultimate source of light in the darkness.