Thank you for joining with us to celebrate Advent together! Whether you want to light the candle with us while watching the video or wish to use the video to inspire your own couple or family time, we are so grateful to be on this journey of remembrance with you!
Our prayer is that together we will experience more of God’s good gifts — especially more of Jesus. And please remember to check out the Advent calendar we made for you and the devotional below. We hope these tools lead to deeper conversations, more joy and more meaning as you celebrate Advent together!
Here are Matt and Josie Jaggers (FamilyLife Regional Directors for BC) along with two of their boys, Liam and Nate, as they share about Christ, the one we’ve all been waiting for!
Please join us in lighting the fifth candle of Advent (The Christ Candle) and doing the devotional below together:
Devotional
“Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” Isaiah 60:1-3 (NLT)
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5 (NLT)
As we have taken time to light all five candles for Advent, the symbolism of light in a dark world can be more clearly understood. As all the candles burn brightly, so his light surrounds us. No longer do we need to walk in darkness. Christ is our peace — we become peacemakers. He is our hope and joy — we are to shine with messages of hope, bringing joy to a world still lost in the shadow of fear and doubt. He is love incarnate — we understand more fully how to love our neighbours, friends, coworkers and family because of his example.
As we reflect on who Christ is, let’s take the opportunity to respond in awe and wonder. What a wonderful opportunity we have to worship Christ the newborn king. To close this Hope is Here advent series, let’s join in with the carol “This is Jesus” by We are Messengers. Let it be a moment revealing the mystery and the greatness of who Christ is.
Go Deeper Together
1. As you reflect on the Christmas story, how are you left in awe and wonder?
2. How do you see the “Light of the World” shining around you?
3. What are some ways you hope to reflect the Light of Jesus in your own life?
A Closing Prayer
Father, thank you for sending Jesus, your one and only son to be the light of the world. He is the light that has overcome the darkness that we face. Through Christ we are able to experience all the hope, peace, joy and love that you desire to show us. We want to keep you at the centre of our lives and ask that you would help us to share this incredible message with those around us — that they would see the light living within us and come to know you as well. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.