Advent 1 - Hope (New Church Year)

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is the first day of the new church year. It occurs four Sundays before Christmas (December 25). Advent lasts between 22 and 28 days depending on the day of the week Christmas falls. Advent is the preparatory season where we get ready for Christ to come into the world. The first Sunday is focused on the hope that came from the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah.

• 1st CANDLE – THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF HOPE – We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. “And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:12-13)

Zechariah 9:9–10 and Matthew 21:1–9 are always read in the service from the Lectionary, and the symbolism of the day is that Christ enters the church.

Today is also the beginning of Chanukah, the festival of lights, which I will discuss in a future post. Modern people associate it as the Jewish Christmas, but only because it is during the same time of year and involved lighting candles.