Prophets like Isaiah and John foresaw a messiah who would come and set things right in the world. When we look to God's coming with reverence and awe, we prepare our own lives. We become ready to cast away whatever parts of ourselves are not in sync with God's vision of love and mercy for the poor and those oppressed.

Isaiah spoke of a time when God would bring peace. God invites us to welcome this and dedicate ourselves to walking in this way of light and peace.

In the cross, we see that God is vulnerable and willing to sacrifice for us, even to the point of death. God rules with love and grace, rather than fear, meaning that we share in God's blessings and can share them in turn.

We continue to light candles symbolically every week, and let the light of God's gracious Word shine, as a reminder of God's presence with us through our life's journey. This has always been our mission and always will be.

Jesus extends an invitation to meet with a man who is an outcast to his people and it leads to transformation and redemption.

As the Church we gather in the presence of all the faithful, past and present, and live into our calling to be light for this moment in time, bringing hope and grace to the world.

In God's grace we are no longer divided, but made into one common humanity. In this is true freedom.

It is in both praying and pursuing justice that we hope to transform the broken world we live in and our own hearts in the process.

The grace and love of Jesus brings healing to our world, and we have the gift of his light to expand the sphere of his grace and healing to all.

Jesus calls us to forgive others and save them and us from further damage to our relationships and the social fabric.