How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day, we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

The Season of Advent begins today. It’s a new season in the church and there’s a new look. The Advent wreath is out. There’s blue or violet stuff on the altar and elsewhere. Out in the world around us, and maybe in our homes as w…