God’s Promise of Hope

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:11,12 It is a profound joy to enter the season of Advent—a time cherished in most Christian denominations as a period of anticipation and preparation. Advent invites us to reflect on both the celebration of Jesus’s birth at Christmas and the promise of His return at the Second Coming. Beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, known as Advent Sunday, this season gathers us with people around the globe. Each Sunday, as we light a candle, we are reminded of God’s enduring promise and the hope that unites us. On this first Sunday of Advent, we remember that God