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 Jay and Gretta Kennedy (FamilyLife Regional Representatives for Vancouver Island) to start us off this first Sunday and week of Advent:
Please join us in lighting the first candle of Advent (The Candle of Hope) and doing the devotional below together:
Devotional
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned…. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (NIV)
The theme of the first week of Advent is hope. It’s a time when we remember how the Israelites waited with great anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. They yearned for the light that would dawn in a dark world. They hoped for this Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace to reign forever, making all things right again.
We too have this hope. We know that Jesus, the Messiah, has brought (and will bring) unending peace. Not only in our world, but also in our own lives and relationships. In this first week of Advent, may we, like the Israelites so long ago, anticipate Jesus’ dawning light to transform our hearts and world.
Go Deeper Together
1. What are we trusting God for over this Christmas season?
2. What does “waiting on the Lord” look like for us as a couple and as a family?
3. How can we support each other when we’re waiting on God?
A Closing Prayer
Jesus, we have hope because of who you are in our lives. You are our Prince of Peace. You are our Wonderful Counsellor. Help us to wait on you together, knowing that you come for us to save us, help us and be the hope within us. Amen.