St John's Lutheran Church is observing the liturgical season of Advent beginning on Sunday 30 November 2025. Advent is about the “coming days.” Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation for the coming of Christ both in the past in His incarnation as the baby Jesus, but also in the future with His promised second coming as Christ Triumphant.
Real Worries, Real Hope
“Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” With these words, often invoked at the table of holy communion, the church proclaims, “the mystery of faith”. At communion, we remember the good story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But there is more! We also look forward to a time yet to be. Thoughts of the future can inspire hopefulness for the promise of good things to come. Yet looking ahead can also conjure worries about what we do not know, or a sense of foreboding about what is out of our control.
Jesus offers an image of hope amid circumstances that seem all but hopeless. He talks of new growth even while what is old and familiar is passing away. Much like Jesus’ parable, the season of Advent invites the church to hold together these multiple, seemingly contradictory realities. We are called to rise up with courage and hope as we anticipate Jesus coming to us, without ignoring the weight of the world or neglecting our very real concerns. Jesus gathers us to the table where we remember his death but also his resurrection, where we pray for the world and also anticipate God’s redemption of all things
The colour blue is also used as a symbol of anticipation and hope.
The Season of Advent
St John’s Lutheran Church invites you to join with us each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. as we celebrate Advent 2025.
30 November Week 1: Hope ✞ We light the purple candle of Hope. Our hope comes from God who will fill all with joy and peace. So it is appropriate that the second Advent candle symbolises peace.
7 December Week 2: Peace ✞ We light the purple candle of Peace. Peace on earth, goodwill to men with the love of Jesus and the promise of a Saviour who would be born in Bethlehem.
14 December Week 3: Joy ✞ We light the pink candle of Joy. The shepherds received a message of joy. It is a time to rejoice during this time for the coming of the Lord is coming soon.
21 December Week 4: Love ✞ We light the purple candle of Love. The meaning of the fourth Advent candle is love. The Angel’s announce the birth of the baby Jesus. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
