Scripture:  Romans 15:12-13 (CEB) – “And again, Isaiah says, There will be a root of Jesse, who will also rise to rule the Gentiles.  The Gentiles will place their hope in him.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Message: Celebrating the four themes of Advent by lighting a special candle on the preceding Sundays of Christmas and remembering their meanings has become a time-honored tradition in the liturgy of many churches.  Lighting the Advent wreath has also become a practice celebrated in many homes, mine included. 

The lighting of the Advent wreath derives its practice from pre-Christian traditions.  It evolved throughout the Middle Ages and eventually transitioned from Germany to the United States in the early twentieth century.  The eternal nature of God’s love expressed through the circular shape, the everlasting hope of an evergreen wreath, together with three purple (sometimes blue) candles and one pink candle.  Blue (or blue/pink) candles are sometimes used instead of purple/pink to provide a helpful visual distinction between Advent and Lent.  The white Christ candle graces the center of the wreath and is lighted on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day. 

Each Sunday’s candle lighting offers a theme: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and usually in this order.  In these days the world, our country, state and local communities have often felt filled with fear and anxiety.  We may wonder how we can possibly celebrate Christmas again, when hope feels turned inside out, peace seems overcome by conflict, the joy of simple things has all but disappeared and, to use a term Florida UMC Bishop Tom Berlin coined in a 2023 sermon, we may all feel like we live on “Loveless Lane”.

Christ was born in a world of conflict, abuses of power and rejection of others.  Now, as then, we need to live in hope, pray that God’s peace will abide with us, rejoice in the Lord, and receive and make God’s love real, every day.

Regardless of the candle colors, or the order of each Sunday’s candle lighting, we still need the themes that remind us that Jesus is the light of the world! 

 Prayer: God of hope, peace, joy and love thank You for blessings us through the birth of You Son, Jesus who is the light of the world.  Amen.

Pastor Sharon Austin
District Superintendent East Central District, Florida

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