Today’s author is Prince of Peace’s Music Coordinator & member, Milt Warkentien.
This Advent season we’ve been using “You’re invited to Hope” as our Advent Series theme. Audrey Henningson, Ruth Hagender and Diane Dodge were the creative forces behind our wonderful “lights and streamers wall” decoration, and then many people helped with the other decorating of the Sanctuary. Thank you to all who helped make our Sanctuary a beautiful, relaxing and festive setting for our worship experience.
I believe it’s important to take time for Advent amongst the Christmas commercialism that’s trying to get you to spend as much as you can, all the possible concerts to go to, decorating at home and elsewhere, figuring out when you’ll get together with family and friends, etc. If we didn’t intentionally take time this Advent season, the season probably just became an incredible blur of events, which didn’t allow one to ponder what the Advent/Christmas season is all about. How can one fully experience Christmas, if we haven’t taken any time to ponder during Advent? What does “You’re Invited to Hope” mean to you?
When I start getting overwhelmed during Advent, I think of Charlie Brown yelling out in frustration, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is about?” as that’s how I sometimes feel. Linus, of course, has the perfect answer, so today I leave you with Linus telling what Christmas is about.
My prayer for all of us is that we did take some time to reflect during Advent, and that if we didn’t, we will make some time today. May this Christmas Season fill you with Hope, Love, Peace and Joy, and may you be a beacon of God’s Light in 2026.