Neither Pastor Leanne nor I could get our Advent Wreath candles to light this weekend.

Horrible weather had delayed the un-decorating of our sanctuary  an entire week.  So our Advent Wreath was still by the lectern but with none of the candles lighted.

Judy and Larry acted quickly to remedy the situation.  While the rest of us were still shaking hands at the door after Sunday’s first service, they investigated and found the wicks were not the problem.

This Advent Wreath’s candle holders are spring-loaded in three purple and one pink sheath.  As as candles burn down, the remaining part of the candle is raised.  Visually, the four candles are always the same height because of the spring inside the metal wrapping.

Judy and Larry found that while our Advent Wreath looked fine, in fact there wasn’t enough of any candle left to light.

Which sounds like you and me sometimes.

We may look like everything’s okay, but inside we’re empty and we give off no light.

“Let the word of Christ fill you,” says Colossians 3:16, and Jesus himself said to let our “light shine.” (Matthew 5:16).

Let’s do what we can to have both of those happen today.

Let’s not be like empty candle holders.