We celebrated the first Sunday in Advent by lighting the first candle on our Advent wreath, made up of handprints from church members:
We also distributed Advent calendars which included a child’s activity booklet all about Christmas to the children in the church.
Dave reminded us that Jesus came to earth when we did not expect it – God’s perfect timing did not find people prepared! Jesus will come again at a time known only to the Father and we need to be ready. (1 Thess 5:1-8) Casting Crowns’ adaptation of a famous Christmas carol makes this point abundantly clear:
‘Oh little town of Bethlehem
Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark
There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne
And is sleeping in a manger tonight
Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping?
For God became a man
And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping
Oh little town of Jerusalem
Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son
The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save
Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping?
The Saviour of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history
As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping
While you were sleeping
United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark
There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night
America, what will we miss while we are sleeping?
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay?
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King?
Will we be sleeping?
Will we be sleeping?’ (‘While You Were Sleeping,’ Casting Crowns)