The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus,” which means “a coming, approach, arrival.” It’s a way of focusing our minds at this busy time on the real reason for the season (spoiler: it’s Jesus).
We often use four candles at Advent to represent four themes: hope, peace, joy, and love.
We will be following this pattern throughout December:
Week 1 – Hope: Prophecy
Week 2 – Peace: Bethlehem
Week 3 – Joy: Shepherd’s
Week 4 – Love: Angel’s
This week we remember when Mary & Joseph entered Bethlehem; Jesus was born, and his Kingdom of Peace had arrived.
What does it mean for the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, to guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus? (Philippians 4:7)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
-St. Francis of Assisi
Find somewhere quiet and give this a listen, asking God to speak to you through the song: