Dear Friends,

As I write this letter, we have just celebrated the First Sunday of Advent. We lit the first candle of the advent wreath, the candle of hope. The candles of peace, love and joy will follow before the center candle is lit at our Christmas Eve service. Hope, peace, love and joy. Nice words. Words we hear at Christmas. This year, when times have turned tough, do you think this world could use a little hope, peace, love and joy?

Hope Mary hoped her son would not have to experience the death that seemed to be coming. Jesus hoped he would not have to drink the cup of death on a cross. Disciples hoped that Jesus would usher in a new political order and the disciples would become members of Jesus' cabinet. It did not work out that way.

Peace If Israel could be done with the Roman occupying forces, then she could again enjoy her independence and even peace as in the time of King David. Who could lead the charge? There was a custom that one prisoner be freed at the time of Passover. Would the people choose Jesus? They chose a prisoner named Barabbas. Jesus was sentenced to death, so could he bring peace? It did not appear that way.

Love Love is two parents caring for their firstborn in a stable behind an inn with no room. But this child would face ridicule from the beginning as to the actual identity of his father. One's identity can be fractured by the whispers of the community. Someone such as this Jesus, with a questionable birth certificate, what could this outcast teach about love? It did seem he could reveal very much.

Joy There was a lot of rejoicing, on heaven and earth, when Jesus was born. But when some women and the disciple John were left at the cross, some thirty three years later, there was anything but joy. Joy? Joy from Jesus? It did not look as though there was any joy that day.

At first glance, the four candles of Advent point to "Christmas words" we take off the shelf once a year. There are times for all of us when hope, peace, love and joy seem distant and unreal. But, as we worship Christ, and understand the real story of his coming into this world, we begin to see the truth. As we find Christ, He finds us, and visits us with hope, peace, love and joy. It is in his birth, death and resurrection that we find a new reality that breaks in upon our lives.

Jesus is coming. He is coming to our lives. So, you are invited to seek and look for him as we worship these Sundays of Advent, at 10:00 am. And all are given a special invitation to join us at 8:00 pm on Christmas Eve, December 24, for our Christmas Eve Worship Celebration.

It is my prayer, that in the busy month of December, the "Christmas words" of hope, peace, love and joy may find some more room in our lives, even as we seek out our Savior. Prayers for our country and our world. Blessings to you and your family.

Hope, Peace, Love and Joy to you, wrapped in the babe from Bethlehem.

Rev. Brad Thompson