December 2025: Jesus - Light of the world

Dear ICTG family!

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

These past months in The Garden, the Lord has been leading us deeper. In September, we began, focusing on learning to listen, to encounter His presence, to surrender and obey. More recently, He called us to rest, to slow down, breathe, and to be so still that we can hear The Holy Spirit inviting us to walk (and rest) in His ‘rhythms of grace’ (Matthew 1:28-29). 

And now Advent is here: the season of anticipation. It’s a waiting that is not passive, but a posture of leaning forward, of hearts awake, filled with longing, hope, and expectancy, knowing something is coming. Or rather, someone is coming. The word “Advent” literally means just that, “coming”. It marks the coming of Jesus into our world - His birth, His humility, His divine rescue mission. And we live, looking forward to when He will come again. Jesus: The Light (and Saviour) of the world. This is the hope we carry. This is the promise we live in: that He has come - and that He will come again. That He was born, that we too, can be born again. He died and paid the price for our sin - so that we may live and walk in The Light of life.Each Advent Sunday, we’ll trace the unfolding truth of Jesus — the Light of the World:

• Hope — Light that was, and is, Promised.

• Peace — Light that Guides.

• Joy — Light that Shines.

• Love — Light that Dwells: God with us, Emmanuel.

This is the light and hope that we carry. It’s a message for

- the 10,000+ internationals who live in Hilversum;

- all our neighbours who may be more open to hear the gospel at Christmas; and

- every family, child, seeker, and guest who will walk through our doors this month.

And - it’s for us too. As the verse from Romans above reminds us, He is the God of hope, so that we too can overflow with hope. May His light be seen in us and His hope overflow to others this Christmas, through our welcome, generosity, shared meals, open homes, and open hearts. May this Advent season rekindle in us a holy, eager anticipation for Jesus — the Light who has overcome the darkness. 

With love,

Evert & Géraldine, and The Elders

International Church The Garden