Scripture: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." – John 1:14
Reflection:
What does it mean to you that God chose to be with us?
How will you carry the reality of "God with us" beyond Christmas?
Prayer for today: Emmanuel, thank You for leaving heaven's glory to be with us. As we celebrate Your birth, help us to live every day aware of Your presence. May we reflect Your light to a world that still walks in darkness. Amen.
Scripture: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." – John 3:16
Reflection:
How has God's love changed you?
Who in your life needs to experience love this week?
Prayer for this week: God of Love, thank You for loving us first. Fill us with Your love so that it overflows to others. Amen.
Scripture: "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'" – Luke 2:10
Reflection:
When have you experienced joy in an unexpected place?
How can you cultivate joy this season, even amid stress or difficulty?
Prayer for this week: God of Joy, open our eyes to see You in the ordinary moments. Help us to receive the good news with wonder, no matter what our circumstances. Amen.
Scripture: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." – Luke 2:14
Reflection:
Where do you need God's peace today?
What would it look like to be a peacemaker in your corner of the world?
Prayer for this week: Prince of Peace, calm the storms within us and around us. Help us to extend Your peace to others, even when it costs us something. Amen.
Week 1: The Promise of Hope
Experience the wonder of the season as we sit down with kids to hear their Christmas memories, family traditions, and thoughts on Advent. Then tune in each week to journey through the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—anchored in Scripture and rooted in the heart of Christ’s coming. Through reflection, practical encouragement, and weekly prayers, this Advent series invites you to slow down, breathe deep, and remember the God who enters our darkness with light, our chaos with peace, our ordinary days with joy, and our world with transforming love. Join us as we prepare our hearts for Emmanuel—God with us.
In this episode, our staff unpacks the Community Workshop from Celebration 2025, discussing the four spaces of belonging and how they apply directly to UME communities. They discuss how couples naturally progress from public connections to social friendships to personal sharing and finally to intimate vulnerability, where real connection happens. Discover how understanding these spaces can help you find your place in community and welcome others in.
In this episode, the men from our Marriage Encounter staff dive into the Biblical Leadership session from Celebration, featuring Greg Smalley’s men-only teaching. The guys walk through 13 key points on what it means to lead and nurture your wife in a way that helps her thrive and become her best self. It’s a practical, honest conversation about servant leadership, love in action, and the call to reflect Christ in marriage. Don’t miss this challenge to grow as a godly husband and leader.
In this women-only episode, our Marriage Encounter staff reflects on the inspiring Godly Self-Care session by Erin Smalley from Celebration 2025. The session reminded us that caring for ourselves is a God-given responsibility—so we can love others from a place of abundance, not exhaustion. The ladies discuss what true rest and recharging really mean, and how to intentionally invest in what brings joy, creativity, and passion. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about discovering what makes your soul come alive.
Some of our Marriage Encounter staff reflect on the Safe and Secure session from Celebration 2025. In the session, Greg and Erin Smalley explored how emotional safety creates space for couples to relax, be vulnerable, and truly connect. When both spouses feel secure, they can be fully known and still fully loved—imperfections and all. Listen in as the team shares their insights and practical ways to build a marriage rooted in unconditional love and trust.
In this episode, our Marriage Encounter staff unpacks the first main session from Celebration 2025, titled Close Pursuit. Greg and Erin Smalley challenged couples to move beyond “roommate” mode—where routine replaces romance—and reignite the passion of being true soulmates. Our team shares their biggest takeaways and the "aha" moments that struck a chord. Tune in for practical ways to closely pursue your spouse and bring fresh excitement to your relationship.
In this episode, we dive into the importance of dating your spouse—not just occasionally, but regularly and intentionally. About half of married couples report going on regular date nights, admitting that in today’s busy culture, it’s easy for quality time to slip through the cracks. We explore why setting aside time to connect, have fun, and truly talk can make a lasting difference, with couples who date more often reporting significantly higher marital happiness. The team discusses what really qualifies as a “date” and wraps up with a fun challenge: 52 dates in 52 weeks, starting on the first day of fall—are you in?
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Join the MTW crew for a lively Q/A session featuring a panel of couples sharing their journey providing wisdom, love and support across generations. You’ll hear Greg and Erin Smalley along with Jerry and Carol Webb answer questions about raising kids, adult children, caring for parents, and other seasons of family life.
Join the MTW crew for a lively Q/A session featuring a panel of couples sharing their journey providing wisdom, love and support across generations. You’ll hear Greg and Erin Smalley along with Jerry and Carol Webb answer questions about raising kids, adult children, caring for parents, and other seasons of family life.
Differences between a married couple are guaranteed. How to navigate and work together through them depends on the work you put into it. Listen as Bruce and Debbie Martin share their challenges in this way and how they overcame them.
If you’ve ever found yourself on an expected path, you’ll appreciate this episode about embracing life’s surprises with intention and faith. Married later in life, Nate and Susan share about processing the reality of not having children and finding contentment in the path God laid before them. They offer wisdom for making the most of the “blessings” we don’t get to choose - and the joy that can be found in the unexpected.
The Christ Candle - pure white, standing in the center of the wreath - represents the fulfillment of all hope, peace, joy, and love. Its light is the culmination of the Advent journey, symbolizing Christ's arrival as the ultimate revelation of God's promise.
The Love Candle burns with a warm, enveloping light that symbolizes the all-encompassing nature of divine love. Its flame represents transformation - how love can soften hardened hearts, bridge impossible distances, and bring light to the darkest corners of human experience. Like love itself, this candle's light is both gentle and powerful.
The Joy Candle burns with a vibrant, dancing light that refuses to be extinguished. Its flame represents the resilient spirit of celebration that emerges even in challenging times. Just as a candle's light becomes most visible in darkness, true joy becomes most powerful when it shines through life's most difficult moments.
The Peace Candle stands as a beacon of calm, its steady flame symbolizing the unshakable tranquility that comes not from perfect circumstances, but from divine presence. Like a lighthouse guiding ships through turbulent waters, this candle represents the peace that surpasses human understanding - a peace that guards our hearts and minds.