Advent

We have started Advent, the season which prepares us for Christmas.  Researching Advent Wreaths for the children messages, it is interesting the various names for the candles.  The candle names that we have used for many years at TULC are Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherds, and Angels.

But other names for them are Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  These names seem to me to capture the real meaning of Advent.

Hope - for the second coming of Christ and the light coming into our world on the first Christmas.

Love -  showing God's love for us in giving his Son and to point out to us how we should act in this lifetime.

Joy - the Joy of the birth of a Saviour, a Messiah, a Son of Man and to remind us that  true and lasting Joy on earth comes thru Christ.

Peace - Jesus comes to bring Peace to both the world and to people's hearts, and to remind us that we should strive for Peace in our world and our lives.

Christianity can be described in these 4 words : Hope, Love, Joy and Peace!