Dear People of St. David’s
As the Thanksgiving holiday comes to a close and December begins, many of us eagerly anticipate the Christmas season, wrapping presents, putting up lights, hanging ornaments, getting our Christmas tree, and yet as followers of Jesus. We believe that this season, which we call Advent, is also about something a little bit deeper hope, peace, joy, and love. Beginning with this video, [St. David’s Pastoral Staff] will make a series of four videos reflecting on one of these themes. These themes of hope, peace, joy, and love go along with the four Sundays of Advent and our church service, during which we’ll light a candle to symbolize one of them. This is also something we would love for you to join in at home.
This week’s reflection is by Elliot VanHoy. Below the video you’ll find a transcript. This is the first of four videos.
Click here to see our Advent event and Christmas worship schedule.
This Advent season, we look ahead to Christmas and the coming of Jesus Christ with patience. This first week we stop to light a candle and appreciate the HOPE that Christ brings. Elliot VanHoy, St. David’s Pastoral Associate, shares this week’s reflection.
TRANSCRIPT:
As the Thanksgiving holiday comes to a close and December begins, many of us eagerly anticipate the Christmas season, wrapping presents, putting up lights, hanging ornaments, getting our Christmas tree, and yet as followers of Jesus. We believe that this season, which we call Advent, is also about something a little bit deeper hope, peace, joy, and love.
Beginning with this video, my colleagues and I will make a series of four videos reflecting on one of these themes. These themes of hope, peace, joy, and love go along with the four Sundays of Advent and our church service, during which we’ll light a candle to symbolize one of them. This is also something we would love for you to join in at home.
If you’re watching this before Sunday, November 30th, you can join us for an Advent Wreath making event and make your very own Advent Wreath with candles. If you’re watching this in the future, this is something you can easily order online. It’s a great way for you to reflect on these four themes during this season.
Now, I want to say a little bit more about this word I’ve been using: Advent. Traditionally, this isn’t a word we use very often. In fact, the word Advent comes from the Latin and Greek word for Jesus’s arrival. Traditionally, Christians have thought about this arrival in three ways with Jesus’s coming in the past, with Jesus’ coming in the present, and with Jesus’ coming in the future.
Now, our first Advent candle and theme is hope. And I think what this arrival helps us remember is that our lives are permeated by hope. Our lives are filled with hope because we remember that Jesus came to us in the past, in the present, and will come to us in the future. Speaking for myself, I know that the busyness and all of the rituals of the Christmas holidays can often overcome the hope of the Advent season.
Don’t get me wrong, I love all of these rituals. I love getting a tree and putting up lights, but as the year winds to a close, I often find exhaustion has set in. However, Advent refocuses my hope. Advent reminds me and it reminds us that God is with us. God has come to us in the past. God is still coming to us now, and God will come to us again.
God is Emmanuel God with us. It reminds us that we have a sure hope in Jesus Christ. My hope for this Advent season is that you too will remember and live into the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Blessings,
Elliot VanHoy, Pastoral Associate
Published on November 26, 2025.