🌲CHRISTMAS BLOG SERIES🌲

  THE CANDLE OF PEACE Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)     The second candle, the Bethlehem candle represents peace. It symbolizes the preparations being made to receive and cradle the Christ child. Bethlehem is a story about a humble couple on an unwanted journey, at an inconvenient time, to visit a tiny insignificant town. Augustus Caesar was ruling and he called for a census to be taken, but God was in charge, for He used Caesar’s edict to move Mary and Joseph eighty miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill His Word. Even though there was no room for Mary and Joseph God had orchestrated these events. Mary and Joseph had to leave Nazareth so that they could register in Bethlehem and the Scriptures (Micah 5:2-5) be fulfilled. When Mary said “May it be done to me according to Your word.” (Luke 1:38), it meant that from then on, her life would be a part of the fulfillment...

THE CANDLE OF HOPE  I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. (Psalm 130:5)  Most churches will have an advent wreath, holding four candles on the outside, and a candle in the center. Churches will light a new candle each week, leading up to Christmas, and on Christmas or Christmas Eve, light the center candle. Each candle tends to represent something such as hope, joy, etc. Today let's focus on the first candle of advent which was lit on 27th November, 2022 this year.  THE CANDLE OF HOPE Like the prophets in the Old Testament, we hope for a Messiah to save us from the sin in the world (Isaiah 9:6-7). We anticipate our Savior’s arrival. Also known as the “prophecy candle,” this candle assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).  In this day and age, where evil abounds and all seems lost, we can also hope that the prop...

 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31) On 27th November, 2022 we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent and lit the candle of Hope. But what does Advent really mean?   What Is Advent Season?   Advent Season is a very special time of year that sometimes gets lost in the bright lights of the Christmas season it precedes. The first day of Advent is the first day of a new Liturgical (or church) calendar and begins a four week period of preparation in anticipation of the nativity of Jesus at Christmas.  The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth in the world as it is today. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds what the true meaning of Jesus’ birth is.  The Advent season invites us t...

Greetings dear friends! Welcome back! In the last blog we spoke about 'why' Christmas is celebrated. Today let's talk about the different Christmas traditions! 🌟 CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS 🌟 And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.'” – Luke 2:10  

Greetings dear friends! December is just around the corner and with December comes the joyful arrival of Christmas. Thoughts of Christmas are accompanied by Santa Claus, sleighing bells, bright lights and much wanted gifts and presents. But is that all Christmas is really about? Want to know what really happened on the day we celebrate as Christmas today?  Well then, let me tell you a story.. . 🌲  THE CHRISTMAS STORY 🌲 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) 👼🏻 THE ANGEL GABRIEL FORETELLS THE BIRTH OF JESUS 👼🏻 Mary, a young teenager, was living in the village of Nazareth and engaged to be married to Joseph, a Jewish carpenter. One day God sent the angel Gabriel to visit Mary. The angel told Mary that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. She would give birth to this child and name hi...