The word “Advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” The entire season is one of heightened awareness and longing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The advent wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, who has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. The candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. Each week a different candle is lit. The four outer candles represent the advent themes of hope, peace, joy and love. The rose candle is unique among the outer candles in that it symbolizes the joy at the Advent of Christ. It is lit on the third week of Advent. The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolizes the various aspects of our waiting experience. Finally, the light that has come into the world is plainly visible as the Christ candle is lit at Christmas, and we rejoice over the fact that the promise of long ago has been realized.
The candles also remind us that there is a rhythm to the Season. Each week builds on the previous week.
Join us each Wednesday during Advent as we examine different Angles on Advent Angels
Services are at 2pm and 7pm
Angels play a prominent role in the proclamation of the Good News that a Savior is Born. An Angel of the Lord, Gabriel, first appears to Zechariah and Elizabeth to announce that she will conceive the Forerunner of Christ in her old age. Gabriel appears to Mary to announce that she will be great with Child by the power of the Holy Spirit and that she is to name Him Jesus. An Angel of the Lord appears to Joseph to tell him that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife; and angels fill the skies over Bethlehem to announce to the shepherds that a Savior is born.
Blessings,
Pastor Bryan E. Drebes
Rev. Bryan Drebes is Pastor at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church in Omaha NebraskaPastor Drebes attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, beginning in 1997. He spent the summer of 1999 teaching English to Chinese middle school teachers in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. He served a four-month vicarage at St. John Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Wisconsin, followed by eight months at Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas. Pastor Drebes was ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry at Zion Lutheran Church, Palmyra, Missouri on August 19, 2001, and installed as Associate Pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas on September 9, 2001. He served Bethany for 14 years. Pastor Drebes accepted a Divine Call to be Senior Pastor at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church in November, 2015.