Miscellaneous
Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of waiting and preparation. We eagerly wait to celebrate the coming of the Christ into our world: God’s gift to his people. One way for us to prepare together is by lighting the candles of the Advent wreath, a symbol of eternal promise. As we light the candles each week, we focus on the light that shines in our dark world.We also prepare for our celebration of God’s gift of his Son to us with a sermon series called “Promises” where we will examine the Christmas story in the light of the many promises that God has made. We will see how God is faithful to every one of the promises that he makes and Christ has and continues to fulfill these promises.Our first promises today will show how Jesus’ coming was the stirring up and the beginning of the end of evil. Everyday, we groan under the evil in our world and in our own hearts. We will see, through the story of Herod, how Jesus ultimately and wonderfully brings evil to an end.