FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT = LOVE!

Since December 30, 2025, at our church we have celebrated 3 different aspects of advent each week.

Hope, Peace, and Joy.

Today....LOVE! LOVE!! LOVE!!! LOVE !!!! is our focus!

Today, as we wait in remembrance of Christ's nativity,

 we light the purple candle of LOVE.......

to celebrate the coming of Jesus the Christ Child.....

.......our Savior! 

It also points ahead to His promised return. 

Christ's return in the Second Coming.

Reflection, prayer and expectant celebration!

GOD IS LOVE! (1 JOHN 4:8)

JOY = THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT!

JOY! JOY!! JOY!!!

Whether in person, live-stream or later on YouTube, we celebrated 3 Advent services today; blessed by each as we focused on the coming birth of our Savior Jesus. Each had a church family light the candle and explain its color and place in the wreath.

A small church celebrated their Christmas Cantata as a UMC choir 35 miles away joined a FBC to add voices to Advent celebration. Singing. Sharing Responsive reading among the choir including verses from Luke 2. Having a children's lesson at the altar to explain the first pink candle to be lit known as the shepherd's candle. Congregational singing "Joy to the World."

Live-stream church FEC in a later time-zone had a large sanctuary and choir loft filled with the city orchestra plus church members seniors and teens played instruments as well.

A children's choir joined the adult choir as the service began.

Little man in plaid, front row knew all the hand motions & could have led the entire group. A special treat was the acceptance of one little fellow, whose family I know well, who treated all to a view of his belly-button a couple of times. (Adorable front row little guy in black & white to far right)

A hymn/carol included, 'Silent Night, Lonely Night" was new to me but the words rang as the words told of the difficulties of life that can darken ones life and weary ones  with trials..... BUT God offers peace and comfort for one's soul when His son Jesus entered bore sorrows and offered eventually offered his redeeming blood Christ the Savior, in whom is all our hope. All is calm and bright.

YouTube Service had excellent visuals as the Matthew 1 responsive reading was led by the two lighting the candle together. I chose a few of my favorites; to reflect the reason for the Advent season. 

Thank you LORD for blessing me over and over again as each church today included HARK THE HEARLD ANGELS SING  as one they chose to sing. 

A Christmas carol close to my heart

3 great ways to celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent!

PEACE = SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT!

Great place to be during ADVENT is with God's people!

"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" are shared words of John the Baptist from Matthew3:2. (Pastor Dave)

Whether it's an older couple or a young family, it's a blessing seeing families come together to share in the lighting of the advent wreath.

The second purple candle is for PEACE.

Peace = wholeness and flourishing. (Pastor Buddy, ABC) 

Such peace is needed in both the church and throughout the world. 

ADVENT: WORTHY OF NOTE!

For Christians, Advent is an important celebration of the four weeks leading up to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ! An advent wreath usually contains three purple, one pink and one white candle.

Today in North Carolina, Tennessee & Texas the first candle, a purple candle signifying hope, was lit by special people in special ways.

A Baptist Church in Bryson City, NC

An Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN

Isaiah 11:9

A Bible Church in Allen, Texas

Jesus is true God and true man are celebrations worthy of note in the Christian community of faith!