For December 8th:

PEACE:

“In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world. It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be listed. So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby. While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7 NIRV; also read Isaiah 9:6-7

Today is the second Sunday in Advent and a continuation of the project described on the November 29^th entry. We continue celebrating our anticipation of the coming of our Savior, Jesus by relighting the purple Candle of HOPE from the first Sunday of Advent. We light it again as we remember that Christ will come again to fulfill all of God’s promises to us.

Light a second purple candle in your wreath. This is the Candle of PEACE.

Read the scripture verses above. The Candle of Peace is sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle to remind us of the place where Jesus was born. Peace is a gift that we must be prepared for. God gives us the gift of peace when we turn to Him in faith. The prophet Isaiah calls Christ “the Prince of Peace.” Through John the Baptist and all the other prophets, God asks us to prepare our hearts so that He may come in. Our hope is in God, and in His Son Jesus Christ. Our peace is found in Him. We light this candle today to remind us that He brings peace to all who trust in Him,

Prayer: Thank you God for the message of the peace of Christ we have to share with others. Amen.

CUMC Women’s Ministry