This Sunday, December 18 marks week four of Advent Season. The theme for this week is Joy. 

What exactly is joy? You may think joy is another word for happiness. However, they are quite different. Happiness is conditional and based on external situations. Whereas joy is an internal state of being that does not rely on circumstance. Moreover, joy is a deeper, gentler, and more reverent emotion. In the Bible, the word joy refers to an emotional state of wonder, bliss, and gladness. In other words, it is a perfect word to express the elation felt by the birth of your individual Christ Consciousness. 

That is what Christmas is truly about. It is a celebration of the birth of the Christ Consciousness within you. It is this awakening that allows you to live more fully as the embodiment of love that you truly are. When you make this connection, it takes you headlong into a spiritual understanding of the people and the circumstances that fill your life. You come to realize that nothing happens by accident and that everything occurs to teach you and guide you. The revelations that you receive through your encounters whether they are seeming failures or successes, anoint you with the oil of Christos, the inner light of the Messiah.

Join Reverend Dennis this Sunday for a lesson about joy through the biblical story about the birth of Jesus. This timeless tale also reveals a deeper meaning; the birth of the Christ Consciousness within you.

Our featured ensemble is S.O.U.L. They are Gwen Gathercoal, Paul Gathercoal, and Todd Neel.