Through Advent our theme has been “The Road to Joy,” and we have looked at passages from Isaiah that looked to the time when God would make things right for the desolated Israelites after the loss of their homeland and everything they knew.  Through the season we have also examined the nature of desperation and joy in our own lives.  So tonight we, once again, celebrate the astonishing arrival of God’s presence among us in the form of a baby birthed by a peasant girl.  This traditional service begins in darkness at 10:30 PM, and it ends with the crescendo of not only all four Advent candles lit, but also the Christ candle, congregational members holding up individual candles as lights to the world, and the singing of “Joy to the World, the Lord has come!”   (NOTE: Reflecting the importance of the Word, the video begins with the scripture, but once it starts you can scroll back to the beginning of the service if you want.  The entire service is videoed.)