First Sunday in Advent The Christmas Fund offers

First Sunday in Advent The Christmas Fund offers hope to those who have brought the good news of Christ’s birth to many churches in the United Church of Christ pension supplements. by

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger -- who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns. ”

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news. This is the Candle of Hope. We light our hope because we have received good news. Let us pause in the shining of this new candle and new season and recall those who have brought good news into our lives.

The Candle of Hope The Christmas Fund offers hope to those who have brought the good news of Christ’s birth to many churches in the United Church of Christ by pension supplements.

The greatest good news we have is the hope of the birth once, and over again, in our lives of the Messiah. Some who have shared this news with us have been pastors, some teachers, neighbors, grandparents and friends. When we light this candle, we also promise to bring others the good news we have received.

(let us pray) Emmanuel, God coming and with us, in this boundary-land between Thanksgiving Day and the often busy blessing of Advent, we give thanks for all the good news messengers, for the hope of your coming, and for the fire you light under our feet to share that hope with all we meet in this holy season and throughout our lives. Amen