Isaiah 9:2 (The Message)

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light.

For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—

light! bursts of light!

Advent is the season before Christmas.  It begins four Sundays before Christmas Day, and ends on Christmas Day.

It is a season of wandering and wondering; a season of contemplation.

A season of thinking—deep thinking: pondering.

Jesus was born into a world not unlike our world today.  War, poverty, hunger and violence were all a very real part of the everyday lives of those living at the time of Jesus’ birth.  Sound familiar?

And yet,

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 1:4-5 (New Living Translation [NLT])

This will not be a cozy view of Christmas. We will leave Hallmark to the retailers.

This will be a time for daily reflection on the state of our own hearts, minds and spirits as we prepare to receive the light of Christ on Christmas Day.

The readings will be short.  Join us as we prepare ourselves to receive light, so that we might be mirrors to reflect that brilliant light into the dark corners of our world.

We invite you to welcome the light. Come back tomorrow (Sunday, November 27) as we begin our daily wondering and wanderings.