Isaiah 9:2-7

In this reading plan we will look at Isaiah 9 and learn about the Christmases Corrie ten Boom celebrated in her childhood; before wartime and in concentration camp Ravensbrück 1944. Corrie wrote about these Christmases herself in ‘Corrie’s Christmas Memories’ (1976).

聖誕節是一個充滿著商業氣息的節日。購物與大餐、歡笑與消費，五彩紛呈的櫥窗、五花八門的娛樂，仿彿成了這個節日的主題。聖誕節，也在向我們發出這樣一個問題：我們到底想要什麼？是那轉瞬即逝的浮華與歡笑？還是一份真正的、從永恆而來的禮物？ 將臨期（Advent）是指「即將來臨」的意思，我們在這期間透過安靜預備自己，紀念耶穌基督兩千年前在伯利恆的馬槽降生，默想祂此刻在我們心中的同在，也企盼祂在末世的榮耀中再來。我們渴望上帝介入我們的生命，經歷光照與覺醒，在熟悉的事物中發現上帝同在的痕跡，經歷救贖的喜樂。 將臨期主題四：盼望之光——迎接主的來臨殷切地盼望主的再來 將臨期第四個主日，最後一根紫色蠟燭會被點燃，代表平安的意思。我們在等候中迎接主的來臨，這不僅包括紀念基督首次降臨，也包括盼望主的再來。在等候中，我們投入新的委身與使命，為上帝的國度而活。主再來的日子雖然未知，但願我們時刻預備自己，警醒不懈，因為祂必會如期而至。願這份殷勤的盼望，推動我們前進。 靈修閱讀計劃按照四個主題而編排： 啟示之光——醒悟與等候以迎接一個嶄新的開始 復甦之光——悔改與潔淨以選擇從罪惡歸回上帝 喜樂之光——重拾生命中的恩典並以耶和華為樂 盼望之光——迎接主的來臨殷切地盼望主的再來

For some, Christmas time can be full of grief, tragedy, hurt, and division. Yet Christmas celebrates that God became a human and stepped right into the middle of our hurting, angry, chaotic world to bring us peace—peace among people and, even more importantly, peace with God. Join us this Advent season in looking at the peace brought by Christ.

So often, the holidays come and go before we have a chance to focus on preparing our hearts for Christmas. Advent is our way of remembering that God came to be with us, is still with us, and will come again. Over the next 5 days, we’ll examine the four Advent themes: hope, peace, love, and joy.