Light the Candle of Hope

It is the beginning of the Advent season. Seems it snuck up on me. Just one month from today we will be opening presents and drinking eggnog. Well, some of you are already drinking eggnog. By the way, eggnog is not fattening when consumed after the first Sunday of Advent, which is this Sunday. In honor of Advent, our theme for the next four weeks will be “Priceless Christmas, the gifts you can’t buy”. I am not referring to the “supply chain” that everyone is talking about, but rather gifts that get deposited in our hearts as a result of the Christmas story. I speak of things like hope, faith, joy, love and the last one, peace.

Given the mess the world is in, never before is the Christmas story more relevant. From natural disasters like in South Western BC, to climate change, political conflicts, topped off by Covid, the world is reeling.

We desperately need hope, faith, joy, love and peace this Christmas and throughout the coming year.

With Jesus, hope, faith, joy, love and peace are possible. We can’t buy it, therefore it is priceless. But we can experience it, possess it, and live in it simply by embracing that what is eternal. Jesus said come to me all who are weary. (Matthew 11:28) Christmas is about refreshment of the soul. For many, it may be just the opposite. You may already feel the added pressure of the Season along with all the other things we have been going through.

Why not dial it back a bit. If hope has left your soul, why not light a candle in your heart for Jesus. Make a conscious decision each morning to bring Jesus, the hope of the world, into your day.

Starting this Friday, and for the next seven days, read the following scriptures, take a moment to think on them, and then journal how hope is possible. Here are your daily readings:

Friday, Jeremiah 33:14-16

Saturday, Psalm 25:1-10

Sunday, Romans 13:11-14

Monday, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Tuesday, Luke 21:25-36

Wednesday, 1 Thessalonians 5:13-22

Thursday, 2 Peter 3:1-18

This Sunday, I will be presenting how hope can lift the soul, refresh the spirit and put spring in our step. However, for hope to do this, it has to be eternal hope, living hope, true hope. There - you just got my three point sermon. Join us will you? Why not bring a friend, start a new tradition as we light the advent wreath together; bring a Priceless Christmas to our hearts and into our homes.

Sunday Celebration

We are meeting personally at the church Sundays at 10:30am. Moving forward and until further notice: We are asking everyone to wear masks practice physical distancing and hand sanitizing. We are so glad that we are gathering again, your presence is so important. The usual online options (Facebook and KCF.Online.Church) will also be available.

Pastor Jim Reimer

November 25, 2021