Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Musings at St. Andrew's
Andrew Hight | Family Ministries Coordinator

“All earth is waiting to see the Promised One…”

This was the hymn sung in our sanctuary on the snowy first Sunday of Advent, as we once again begin the four-week journey to Christmas. Impossible as it seems—December is here. The Christmas Market has happened, the Police Band held their holiday concert on Monday night, and the festive season at St. Andrew’s is in full swing.

The journey through Advent, although different in small ways, remains beautifully consistent year after year. Advent hymns—some familiar, some strange and seldom sung—fill the sanctuary. The same four candles of hope, peace, joy, and love are lit. The church is decorated. And yet… the anticipation and beauty of the story we hear every December never fades.

The prophet Isaiah foretold it.

John the Baptist testified to it.

The angel Gabriel announced it.

Every year, as we hear this story again, I’ve come to appreciate the comfort it brings—the grounding that comes from really sitting with Isaiah’s words:

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

King Herod ruled Judea on behalf of Caesar Augustus and the Roman Empire, enforcing an uneasy peace for thirty-five years. Regardless of the Babylonian exile or Persian rule centuries earlier—which shaped much of the prophetic writings—in the time when Jesus is conceived and born, the people are truly living in darkness. Herod is a tyrant, threatened by the words of the prophet Jeremiah:

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” (Jeremiah 23:5–6)

The birth of Jesus reminds us—every single year—that good will conquer evil, and that even in a divided and hurting world, hope is offered to those who feel they are walking in darkness. The Messiah promised six hundred years earlier, born in the town of David, is coming.

With the season comes our Christmas Eve services, and I once again have the honour of leading the family service at 4:00 p.m.

If you were at last year’s service, you’ll remember that I revived a thirty-year tradition where every attending family received a ceramic crèche figure. Last year’s theme was the angels of the nativity story. This Christmas, families will receive a figurine of Joseph.

Can you really plan and theme an entire 45-minute service around a character who, between Luke and Matthew, maybe has four verses about him? Well… you’ll have to come and find out!

For all Christmas services—including this year’s choir cantata, which will be followed by a spaghetti dinner—you can register for the dinner and find more details here.

Happy Advent, and Merry Christmas to you all.

Andrew Hight | Family Ministry Coordinator