Advent is a season of waiting—not a passive waiting, but a hopeful one. It is the kind of waiting that opens the curtains and looks toward the horizon, expecting light. We light candles, not because the darkness has vanished, but because we believe the Light is coming. We live in a world where anxiety, exhaustion, and uncertainty often fill the headlines and even our homes. But Advent invites us to pause, breathe, and listen for the whisper of God’s promise: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2).
Isaiah lived in such a season of darkness, when fear and uncertainty were everywhere. Nations were at war, empires were rising and collapsing, and people were asking: Where is God? Has He forgotten us? Yet in the midst of that fear, Isaiah saw something the world could not see — God’s future breaking into the present. He saw hope when others saw danger. He saw a Child when others saw chaos. He saw the coming of the Messiah.
This Advent, I want to challenge myself –and invite you– to look for the Christmas story in the book of Isaiah. When I think of preaching during Advent, my mind usually goes straight to the Gospels of Luke or Matthew. I tend to avoid the Old Testament during this season, as if Christmas is only a New Testament story. But in reality, the Christmas story stretches across all of Scripture. From the very beginning, people longed for a Messiah to rescue them. They longed for hope, peace, joy, and love — everything Advent celebrates.
So this year, I invite you to journey with me through Isaiah, one of the greatest books of the Old Testament, to discover the Christmas story in a fresh and meaningful way. I don’t know exactly how it will unfold, but I believe it will be worth it. It will require careful study, but I will rely fully on the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Let us enter this season with open hearts –ready to listen for God’s voice, to see what Isaiah saw– hope breaking through the darkness. Let us receive God’s hope, peace, joy, and love; encourage one another; and celebrate the coming of Christ.
Before I close, I want to thank each one of you for your generosity. Because of your gifts of time, prayer, and financial support, Erwin Presbyterian Church has continued to serve God’s kingdom—in our church, in our town, in our nation, and around the world. Together, we worshiped faithfully despite the challenges of this year. We celebrated more than 10 women’s circle meetings, 50 prayer gatherings, 8 fellowship lunches, and 20 youth gatherings. We renovated Scots Hall; and supported 8 international missionaries and institutions. We served our community through youth activities, disaster relief, and partnerships with local universities and agencies. And we welcomed new members into our church family. Thank you for your faithfulness and your commitment to God’s work. I look forward to serving with you in 2026!
And finally, I am delighted to share some joyful news: our talented organist, Ethan Thomas, was married in the last week of November! Congratulations, Ethan! We are so happy for you and pray that your new home will be filled with God’s grace, joy, and blessing.
Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!
Dr. Ramy