Join us this Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in person or on Zoom.​
 

This Sunday will be the Second Sunday in Advent.  It is marked by the lighting of the “Peace” candle on our Advent wreath.  This past Sunday our young people lit the “Hope” candle.  In traditional theological perspective, the main purposes of Advent are to prepare for remembering (and re-experiencing) the birth of Jesus at Christmas and to prepare for the second coming of Jesus.  We focus on that return, that second coming, as Jesus and Holy Spirit coming into our hearts and our lives in myriad ways.  Now, there certainly are faith groups who hold out for a total apocalypse in his return. 

 

While Christians today have differing viewpoints on when, how, or whether the second Advent will occur, virtually all Christians believe that God is dissatisfied with the world in its present state and seeks to increase the hope, love, peace, justice, dignity, joy, freedom, and abundance that we need so much. 

 

In Advent, the church thinks afresh about how to join God in the movement towards a world that is more like the realm of heaven. I can think of no better Advent guide than John the Baptist, whose instructions for preparation are condensed into one word: “Repent!”  And that takes us to our text this week from Matthew 3:1-12.  Plan to join us this Sunday for worship. 

 

Pastor Ann