Peace: The Gift of Wholeness

This past Sunday, we gathered to celebrate the first Sunday of Advent by reflecting on hope—a central theme of our faith and a profound reminder of God’s promises to us. With voices from across our church sharing what hope means to them and how it is shaping their lives, it was an uplifting and inspiring time of worship and reflection. Advent is a season of anticipation and expectation, and it was fitting to start by focusing on hope: the confident and assured expectation that we will receive all that God has promised. Biblical Hope: Firm and Secure The Bible reminds us that hope is not a faint wish or fleeting feeling but a firm and secure anchor for the soul: Hebrews 6:19 describes the believer’s hope as strong, steadfast, and unshakable. Psalm 71:5-6 speaks of a lifelong reliance on God as our source of hope: “O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.” As followers of Christ, our hope is grounded in God’s character and promises. It is not rooted in circumstances but in the unchanging faithfulness of God. Faith, Hope, and Love We also reflected on 1 Corinthians 13, which highlights faith, hope, and love. Love is the greatest because it is eternal. One day, in the presence of God, we will no longer need faith to trust in an unseen God or hope to anticipate His return—we will see Him face to face. But for now, hope sustains us in the waiting. As Billy Graham said: "For the believer, there is hope beyond the grave because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection." Hope in Action: What We Heard Throughout the morning, different voices shared what hope means to them: Kinley: Drawing from Romans 8:23-25, Kinley reminded us that even in our groaning and suffering, we are given hope. It’s a hope that strengthens us, sets us free, and lifts us back up when life feels overwhelming. This is a hope worth enjoying and letting rise up within us, giving us the courage to persevere. Emma: Emma spoke about the reality of our world today—so many people are living not without purpose but without hope. It’s not that they are hopeless people but that they don’t know where hope is found. As followers of Christ, we are called to be messengers of hope, pointing people to God, the ultimate source of hope. Steffan: Steffan encouraged us to actively spread hope by listening, helping, and sharing the generous grace of God. He highlighted 2 Corinthians 8:9, which reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made so that we might be rich in His grace. Kate: Kate shared from Jeremiah 29:11-14, a powerful reminder that God’s plans for us are good, to give us a future and a hope. She spoke about how many people are living with a deep longing for something more—a longing that can only be fulfilled by God. Kate reminded us that God not only wants to bring healing to us but also wants to use us to inspire hope in our community. As believers, we are called to live with hope and bring that hope to those around us, sharing God’s promises and pointing others toward His love. Living with Hope This Advent Advent is a season of waiting, but it is also a season of hope. As we look ahead to Christmas and reflect on the birth of Jesus, we are reminded that He is the ultimate fulfillment of hope—a Savior who came to rescue, redeem, and restore us. This week, let’s carry the hope we’ve received into our everyday lives: Be a messenger of hope to those who don’t know where to find it. Let hope rise within you, giving you strength to persevere through trials. Look to God’s promises as your anchor, firm and secure. As we light the Advent candle of hope, may we be reminded that God’s hope never fades. He has called us to be His light in the darkness, sharing the truth that hope is alive in Jesus Christ. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13