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This Sunday is the beginning of Advent. Advent is the four Sundays leading to December 25th when we celebrate the birth of Christ. Advent also anticipates the second coming of Jesus. He is Lord and he will return. And Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year. It's a time of preparation for Christ's coming.

Last Saturday I went to the Joy Fellowship Christmas Fair. It was wonderful to see the different crafts, gifts, fabrics, and colours from across the world. Many people came to have a look at these and to buy gifts for loved ones and friends for Christmas.

Matthew 2:1-2 say, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?’ We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The Magi – we call them the Wise Men – had been prepared by God. They had looked at the skies and see the sign that pointed to the coming of Jesus. And they brought their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. Their coming is a reminder that Jesus is not just for one group of people. He is for all people, all nations, all those who would turn to him, who would acknowledge him as Lord and Saviour.

Looking around the Joy Fellowship Christmas Fair and seeing all these crafts from across the world reminded me that Jesus is Lord of all, reminded me to be prepared, reminded me to come and offer my life, my gifts of worship to Jesus.

As we enter Advent, let us take time to focus upon who Jesus is and to be reminded of the greatness of God who out of love sent his son Jesus for us. I pray this Advent will be a time when you draw closer to Jesus and know that he is God's gift to you. No matter where you're from, what nation you come from, what language you speak, Jesus loves you.

視頻大意翻譯(video Chinese translation):

大家早。

這個星期天是降臨節的開始。降臨節預示著耶誕節的到來。降臨節是指 12 月 25 日前的四個星期日，屆時我們慶祝基督的誕生。降臨節也預示著耶穌的第二次降臨。他是主，他會再來。降臨節代表基督教年曆的開始。是為基督的到來做準備的時刻。

上週六，我去了喜樂團契的聖誕市集。看到來自世界各地的不同手工藝品、禮品、布料和多彩的顏色。很多人也來這市集，並為耶誕節的親朋友購買禮物。

馬太福音 2：1-2 說：“當希律王的時候、耶穌生在猶太的伯利恆．有幾個博士從東方來到耶路撒冷、說、那生下來作猶太人之王的在那裏。我們在東方看見他的星、特來拜他。"

東方博士—我們稱他們為智者—是神所預備的。他們看了看天空，看到了指向耶穌降臨的跡象。他們帶來了黃金、乳香和沒藥當作禮物。他們的到來提醒我們，耶穌不僅僅是為一群人準備的。祂是給所有的人，所有國家，所有願意轉向他的人，那些承認他是主和救主的人。

環顧喜樂團契聖誕市集，看到來自世界各地的手工藝品，提醒我耶穌是萬物之主，提醒我做好準備，提醒我來獻上我的生命，作為我敬拜耶穌的禮物。

當我們進入降臨節時，我鼓勵我們每個人都做好準備，花時間專注於耶穌是誰，並記得神的偉大，他出於愛為我們差遣了他的兒子耶穌。讓我們在敬拜時，在獻身於祂時，在花時間專注於耶穌基督時，做好準備。我祈求這個降臨節是你更接近耶穌並知道他是神給你的禮物的時候。無論你來自哪裡，你來自哪個國家，你說什麼語言，耶穌都愛你。

讓我們禱告。 

主阿，我們感謝你因你是創造萬物的王。謝謝主你愛我們。謝謝主在這個降臨節時我們可以更專注於你，並為主耶穌的來臨準備好自己。 求你對我們的生命說話。願你傾倒你的聖靈，我們願與你更親近。願你得到祝福和讚美，奉耶穌的名求，阿們。

或許你也來參加了喜樂團契的聖誕市集。也許你買了一些東西作為禮物送給另一個國家的人。也許你去過喜樂團契聖誕集市。也許你買了一件在另一個國家、另一個世界土地上製作的禮物，你買了它作為禮物送給特別的人。主愛你。他為你差遣他的兒子耶穌來。你對他來說是很寶貴，他給了我們最大的禮物。

當我們為主的到來做好準備時，願你在本周進入降臨節時蒙福。願主與你同在。謝謝。

The Lord be with you.

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum