Dear Church Family,
As we enter Advent*, we start a new year according to the church calendar. The beginning of this year is not merely a time to reflect on the past year and make new resolutions. For Christians, it is a time to welcome the birth of Jesus and wait for new life. This waiting is not just filled with excitement and anticipation; it is a hopeful waiting that carries the weariness and brokenness of long suffering, along with a vision for restoration and renewal. Just as the Israelites believed in God’s promise of restoration during their long struggles, we too wait in faith for God’s promise of restoration in our lives.
Living in an imperfect world, we are inevitably influenced by a broken world. As a result, we experience various forms of pain, both directly and indirectly. In such a world, how should we approach our present lives with regard to the future? The answer lies in believing in the fulfillment of God’s promises and living today with hope for a new future.
Living in the present with hope, it is important for us to understand our role as witnesses of Christ’s love. This means embodying the value of Christ’s Kingdom: forgiveness, reconciliation, love, justice, joy and peace. During this Advent season, to prepare for new life, I would like to invite you to hear the message of hope, peace, joy, and love and to live out that message into your lives.
For all of us waiting in the new life, may this Advent be a time of renewal, healing and restoration in your lives.
*Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It begins four Sundays before Christmas Day and lasts until Christmas Eve. Advent is marked by
themes of hope, anticipation, and reflection, as believers prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ. Many churches and families observe Advent using calendars, wreaths, or candles, with each week focusing on different aspects of the Christmas story, such as hope, peace, joy, and love.
Blessings,
Jinkyoung