Hi church!
As we enter this season of Advent, my heart is filled with gratitude for each of you.
Advent is a time of looking back and looking forward—remembering the God who came near in Jesus Christ, and renewing our hope in the God who is still at work today. “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” Quite literally “ad” = to / “vent” = come.
In a world that often feels heavy with uncertainty, Advent invites us to lift our eyes. Hope is not wishful thinking, nor is it fragile optimism that wilts when life is hard. Christian hope is rooted in a Person—Jesus Christ—whose arrival changed everything and whose promises remain sure. When the angels announced His birth, they declared “good news of great joy for all people.” That good news still rings true for us.
As we enter this season, may our hope in Christ remind us that God’s light still breaks into darkness. The same God who fulfilled His promise in Bethlehem continues to fulfill His promises today. Christ has come, Christ is with us, and Christ will come again. Because of Him, hope is never out of reach.
My prayer for our church is that this Advent would renew our strength, steady our hearts, and remind us that no matter what we face, our Savior holds us fast. May we open our lives to Him and share His hope generously with a world longing for good news.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
Grace and peace to you this Advent season.
Love you, church!
Pastor Brent