There’s a song by Jerry Heman that goes “For We Need a Little Christmas right this very minute.”  Some of us remember Johnny Mathis singing that back in 1986.  Well, I’d like to suggest that right now, “We need a little Advent.”

It’s been a chaotic year of angry elections, a divided nation, wicked storms, ongoing suffering by those who have the least, and personal suffering by many among us.  We’ve searched and prayed, but sometimes the Lord’s peace has been elusive.

After this frenzied year, there is comfort to be found when we pause to read, pray and reflect in this Advent season.  The second Sunday of Advent encouraged us to prepare our hearts in faithful waiting to celebrate the Christ’s birth and to ready ourselves for his second coming.  A key word there is faithfulness, not just waiting, but waiting with faith.  The other key word is waiting.  We read, we pray, we reflect, and oh yes, we would like God’s reply ASAP.  But we must wait, all things come in God’s good time, not ours.   And yes, we need that reminder, we need a little Advent.

When we wait on the Lord, there is  always hope.  Awaiting our God of unconditional love gives us true hope.  The song that follows, “The Thrill of Hope,” is sung by Cristy Nockels.  I hope you enjoy it.

Judy