First Sunday of Advent--Hope

I intended to write this post sooner, however it's here now and still before the Second Sunday of Advent. :) I'll try to get a picture of our wreath to show you.

I made an Advent wreath (styrofoam flat circle, candles--3 purple, 1 pink and 1 white, and greenery wrapped around it). Each Sunday we light a candle and read selected Scriptures. This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. We lit the first purple candle and read Scriptures about hope. [Hope--confidence, trust, eager expectation, longing.] For example: hope through the prophecies of the coming Savior (Genesis 49:10, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Micah 5:2-4 and Matthew 2:6). Each evening of this week, we've read more Scriptures about hope~examples of hope-Noah, Abraham and David, hope in the Christmas story-Joseph, Mary and Simeon and Anna.

This coming Sunday we will light the second candle along with the first. The second purple candle is for peace [completeness or soundness resulting from God's presence and forgiveness].

The third Sunday is joy and the pink candle. [Joy--delight, gladness, contentment and cheerfulness that focuses on the character and acts of God.]

The fourth Sunday is love and the last purple candle. [Love--the very nature of God, shown by His Son and put into the hearts of His children by His Spirit.]

Christmas Eve--the Christ Candle which is a little taller than the rest and is white. The Christ candle represents the One who is the center of the whole celebration and the center of our lives.

This Advent celebration is a time that we all look forward to. It certainly focuses our thoughts on Christ.