Welcome, dear friends, to this final Sunday of Advent, with Christmas morning just four days away! Today we are lighting the fourth candle of the season (along with the third) in our thrifted Advent wreath. The message today is one of Love…

I missed last week’s sermon but we did make it to this fourth Sunday of Advent at our church. The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy:

Pink or rose, the “Shepherd’s Candle,” marks the midpoint (Gaudete Sunday) of rejoicing as Christmas nears.

AI on Google

I know my Advent candles’ colors on our mantel are reversed from what they should be, but at least this year I have the correct colors! Our gold Advent candleholder was found at a thrift shop shortly after we arrived in Texas.

The traditional pink third candle represents the “joy of the announcement of Christ’s birth, as the angels brought gladtidings to the shepherds.” also per AI.

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11 NKJ, Christianity.com

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In my first year blogging, I wrote a short post sharing Christina Rossetti’s poem, Christmastide. Here it is again for your pleasure. Always lovely to reread it!

Of course, Ms. Rossetti wrote of Jesus Christ as Love. One of His greatest attributes!

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Christmastide

Christina Rossetti 1830 –1894

Love came down at Christmas,
     Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
     Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
     Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
     But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
     Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
     Love for plea and gift and sign.

Poets.org

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The fourth candle represents “the boundless love of God, made visible through the incarnation, as He sent His son to the world,” ibid. ‘Tis the Angel’s candle.

The message today at church was found throughout the Bible, including the passage from Luke above, plus various other scriptures, finally culminating in Revelation 5:11-12

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹² In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
 to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
 and honor and glory and praise!”

Biblegate.come

⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

¹² This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:9-13 KJV, Bible Gateway

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Christmas blessings,