Rev. Dr. Cyril Guerette
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Advent sermons

19 sermons by Rev. Dr. Cyril Guerette in 7 Advent series, preached 2014 to 2022, with audio and a quote from each.

Advent 2014: Spirituality of Christmas Traditions

1 sermon, preached 2014

This Advent, we paused to ask what deep spiritual truths lie behind the traditions we practice every Christmas without a second thought. We began with the Spirituality of Light — the ancient hope that a light would shine in the darkness — and closed the season considering the Spirituality of Carols, the songs that have carried the story of Christmas from generation to generation.

Advent 2016: In Search of a King

4 sermons, preached 2016

This Advent, we go in search of a King. Our world is full of false kings we put our hope in — politicians, technology, the promise of feeling good — but none of them can bear the weight we place on them. Through the weeks of Advent we watch anticipation build for a very different kind of King: one who leads with hope instead of despair, peace instead of power, joy instead of a quick fix, and love instead of self-interest. On Christmas Eve that King arrives, not on a throne but in a stable, threatening a jealous ruler named Herod with nothing more than his very existence. We are left with a question: what does it look like to actually be led by this King?

Advent 2017: God With Us

3 sermons, preached 2017

This season, ForestView will spend some time looking into the Advent of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that begun one crisp Christmas morning two thousand years ago. As we rush about gathering Christmas presents, doing decorations, attending events, and preparing or consuming food, we too often get exhausted and drained in the holidays. But the story of God coming to earth as a human baby was never intended to leave us in this place of disappointment, anxiety, sadness and anger. Let us journey together to rediscover the treasure of the Incarnation - God With Us. We discover that Christmas is all about God’s gifts to us in Jesus. This year instead of making it about what we are doing, we want to take the time to remember what God did, and what he’s doing. We don’t just look longingly at Christmas Past, or with anticipation for Jesus returning with Christmas Future, but remember what he is giving us right now in Christmas Present. Take a moment to simplify, and receive the gift of Immanuel.

Advent 2018

1 sermon, preached 2018

This Advent season we lit candles of Hope, Joy, and Love as we prepared our hearts for the coming of Christ. Drawing from 1 John's meditations on light, life, and the love that casts out fear, we discovered that the season's familiar themes are never simply decorations — they are promises fulfilled in the person of a baby born to save the world.

  • December 2, 2018 · 1 John 3

    Hope

Advent 2020: Christmas Character

4 sermons, preached 2020

Even Covid can’t keep Christmas down! Every year for almost two millennia, Jesus’ Church takes a month to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation. The stories of our favourite characters intermingle with the very gifts that Christ came to bring humanity. The Prophets of old foretold a bold Hope that would overcome the darkest visions they were given. The Angelic visitors from Heavenly Realms overwhelmed by telling us there would be peace where we dwell. The baby boy brought joy to all around Him, from his cousin in the womb to starstruck shepherds on the nightshift. And foreigners from far away lands displayed a love beyond reckoning in their trekking after an astronomical anomaly to inspect a global baby King. It might not look the same this year, but Groundswell approaches Advent intent on divine intervention.

Advent 2021: Christmas Psalms

4 sermons, preached 2021

Ancient Prayers for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in Jesus. When the people of God first experienced God becoming flesh in the person of Jesus, they had on their tongues ready made songs to worship their promised Messiah. The ancient Psalms of David and other holy authors were being sung for centuries in anticipation of the return of the King of Israel, and have been sung over and over again since the birth of the baby we celebrate at Christmas. Join us this Advent season as we explore the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love offered to the entire world in the person of Jesus Christ. Ancient hymns find new expressions as we learn to let Jesus live in the abundance of gifts he offers us this season.

Advent 2022: Christmas Presence - Incarnational Gifts of God

2 sermons, preached 2022

The coming of God to earth in the form of a human was the greatest gift ever given. Not only did it lay the ground for our freedom from bondage to evil and salvation in the future, it was the opening of the door for God to give us the inner strength we need to live our best lives today. Emmanuel - God with us - ensured we were provided the greatest gifts to follow Christ in a difficult world. Supernatural Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love are all available to us now thanks to the presence of Christ on Earth. This Christmas Season we delve into the ways in which the presents can empower us to face whatever the world may bring.

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