Promise...

As a little girl, my family had an Advent wreath every December, and we read and sang from a book called "We Light the Candles" by Catharine Brandt. It was a beautiful way to come together as a family, even as we grew into teenage and adulthood and were often busy with friends, jobs, and school responsibilities, and remember that this season is about so much more than Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays.

We Ruegg gals love our Advent book and traditions so much that just a few years back, our parents found and purchased us each our own copy of "We Light the Candles" (which still has the same little drawings in it that our original 1976 version did!).

I am so glad to continue the tradition for Casey.


From "We Light the Candles"

We call the first candle promise to remind us that God promised to send his Son Jesus.

Long ago the prophet Isaiah spoke these words of promise about Jesus to God's people.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)

Long before Jesus was born, God promised it would be so. People joyfully celebrate Christmas because God gave the world his own Son, the very first Christmas gift.