Hope is Born! is the 2024 Advent theme for FBC Norman! Have you considered the many ways Hope is Born at Christmas? Hope is Born in the wilderness when John the Baptist stirred the hearts of the people to remember the promises of the prophets that a Messiah would come to save His people. Hope is Born in Bethlehem when a virgin believed and welcomed God’s Word to be fulfilled in her life. Hope is Born in a carpenter who believed his betrothed’s babe was, indeed, Immanuel (God with us). Hope is Born in the fields outside of Bethlehem as the angelic chorus interrupted shepherds watching their flocks. Hope is Born as these same shepherds ran to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Have you experienced the birth of HOPE? If not, we invite you to believe…for Hope is Born at Christmas!
Advent begins on Sunday, December 1, with the Hanging of the Green and continues through Christmas Eve. Each Sunday morning worship begins at 10:30 a.m. The Sounds of Christmas concert is on Sunday evening, December 8, at 6:00 p.m., featuring the choirs and orchestra of First Baptist Church. Advent concludes with the beautiful Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 6:00 p.m. I invite you to worship with us in person or online and discover that Hope is Born!
The arrival of Advent means there are many details to consider. There are gifts to buy, decorations to place, lights to put up, and meals to prepare. Many will ready their homes to receive guests. Others will pack their bags to travel distances both far and near. And amid the busyness, the Holy Spirit invites us to wait. We must find ways to still our hearts, our minds, and our bodies so that we might receive the good news of great joy that a Savior is born. We pray this devotion guide can help you find moments of quiet.
The Tree of Light is again part of our Christmas witness. Located on the front lawn of the church, The Tree of Light is a unique expression of the Light of Christ and His love for each person in our community. The Tree of Light is a gathering point for our church and community during Advent. We pray this ministry will create space for spiritual conversations about the meaning of Christmas and the Christ-child who comes to us as The Light of the World. Join us for lunch after worship on December 1, followed by the tree lighting at 12:30 p.m.
This devotion guide is a gift from First Baptist Norman. It is one of the ways we celebrate and share the Advent season. The members of our church wrote its pages as they considered the birth of Jesus and the Gift of Hope. We invite you to reflect on each devotion and the scripture it draws from. Our prayer is that you will be strengthened in HOPE as you prepare and wait for Christmas morning.
Dr. Wade E. Smith
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