Advent is a time of hope and preparation, inviting us to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in sending His promised Messiah. This year, our series, The Light of Fulfilled Promises, takes us on a journey through Luke’s Gospel, tracing how God’s plan of redemption unfolds step by step. Each week, we light a candle that represents a key part of this story, culminating in the birth of Christ, the Light of the World.
We begin with God Breaks His Silence (Luke 1:5-25), where after 400 years of silence, God reveals His plan to Zechariah, promising the birth of John, the one who will prepare the way for the Messiah. As Advent starts, we light The Candle of Promise (Luke 1:26-38) as Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God, fulfilling the prophecies of old. The following week brings us to The Candle of Prophets (Luke 1:39-56), as Mary visits Elizabeth and proclaims her song of praise, magnifying the Lord for His faithfulness to Israel.
Next we light The Candle of the Herald (Luke 1:57-80), celebrating the birth of John the Baptist and Zechariah’s prophetic song declaring the dawn of salvation. Finally, we light The Candle of Mary (Luke 2:1-20), rejoicing in the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world, as angels proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest!”
This Advent, may the light of each candle remind us that God’s promises never fail. From silence to song, from waiting to fulfillment, we see the faithfulness of a God who keeps His word. Jesus, the promised King, has come, and His light continues to shine in the hearts of those who trust in Him.