00:01Well, speaking of love, we love to see Tita Ann Asisio over in the back there. Let's give her a hand. Yes.
00:10And please show her some love today when you have a chance to see her. So good to see you, Tita Ann.
00:17All right. Well, children, today is called the first Sunday of Advent. Say the word Advent.
00:25Advent. Once again, Advent. Advent. Do you know what Advent means? Is it like having an adventure?
00:36You know, like we go on an excursion, an adventure. Not quite. The word Advent is a Latin word that means the coming of something.
00:46So in this case, we can talk about the coming of a lot of things. But today is the first Sunday of Advent.
00:52And as you can see, we got these candles. You've probably seen this many, many times over throughout your lifetime.
00:59Short as it has been so far. But you've seen these candles. You've seen these three purple ones, the pink one, and this center one.
01:09The center one is called the Christ candle. Pastor Dave can explain it much better in terms of the tradition behind it.
01:15But today, we are celebrating the first week of Advent. And the theme is that of, I know this, hope.
01:25I have to get it in my head. It's hope. So we're going to light this first candle.
01:30And I'm going to have you all be the ones to hold this together.
01:33In one second, though, we're going to go through one verse before we do the lighting of the Advent candle.
01:39Thank you, Koya Andre.
01:39Let's all say the verse together, please, the congregation and the children, together.
01:45Let us hold fast and confession among our own hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
01:55Hebrews 10, 23. Amen.
01:58Now, this verse reminds us of this hope that we have.
02:02And the hope here, the idea is that we don't know what the future holds.
02:08Like, even if you ask someone who has a pretty good grasp of the times, and they might be able to predict here and there what can happen tomorrow,
02:16and maybe it happens, or it doesn't happen.
02:20But what we can trust in is the fact that our hope rests in he who promised.
02:26The he there is God.
02:27And God who promised is always faithful to deliver.
02:31God who promised is always faithful to fulfill what he has promised in times past.
02:37And he will fulfill it today, he will fulfill it tomorrow, and he will fulfill it forevermore.
02:42So I want you all, children, to come here.
02:45I'll help you with this.
02:46Don't worry.
02:47Maybe the elder ones can hold it.
02:50And you know how to do it?
02:51Perfect.
02:52Now, I want you sort of as a symbol of your solidarity with one another.
02:56Kind of just huddle around together.
02:58Perfect.
02:59And go ahead and light that first candle.
03:03Hold it.
03:05Hold it.
03:07There you go.
03:08Perfect.
03:13Great.
03:14Beautiful.
03:16Thank you so much.
03:18Now, let's stay huddled here.
03:19Remember, this is the first Sunday of Advent, and the first candle we have lit is the candle of hope.
03:26Because we need to hold fast to the hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
03:31Let's bow our heads.
03:33Hold our hands.
03:34Close our eyes.
03:35And let's pray together.
03:36Say, Father God.
03:37Father God.
03:39For the hope.
03:40For the hope.
03:41That comes.
03:42That comes.
03:43By knowing.
03:44By knowing.
03:45Your Son.
03:45Your Son.
03:46Jesus Christ.
03:47Jesus Christ.
03:48Who came.
03:49Who came.
03:49As the baby.
03:50As the baby.
03:51In Bethlehem.
03:52In Bethlehem.
03:53He lived.
03:54He lived.
03:55He died.
03:55He died.
03:56He rose again.
03:57He rose again.
03:58For my salvation.
03:59For my salvation.
04:00Help me.
04:01Help me.
04:02Always.
04:02Always.
04:03To keep the hope.
04:04To keep the hope.
04:05To keep the faith.
04:06To keep the faith.
04:07In you alone.
04:08In you alone.
04:08In Jesus' name.
04:09In Jesus' name.
04:10Amen.
04:11Amen.
04:12Thank you, kids.
04:13Give them a hand.
04:14Amen.
