In Estes Park, this time of year has a unique beauty. Snow rests quietly on the mountains. Lights twinkle along Elkhorn Avenue. Herds of elk wander peacefully across fields and yards, unbothered by the bustle of our holiday preparations. There is a quiet majesty to our valley—a reminder that creation itself reflects the glory of its Creator. And it is in this season that we turn our hearts toward the One who brings a greater glory still: Jesus Christ, the King of Glory who came to dwell among us.
Advent means “arrival.” It is the season in which the Church intentionally waits—not simply for December 25th, but in the deeper sense of waiting for God to fulfill His promises. More than 2,000 years ago, that promise came wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. The infant Jesus was not born into fame or comfort, but into humility and simplicity—much like God’s unexpected ways in our own lives. Yet that small child was the eternal Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah, who entered our world to redeem it from sin and restore us to God.
Advent reminds us that we still wait. We live between His first coming and His promised return. The world around us often feels weary—burdened by anxieties, exhaustion, conflict, and uncertainty about the future. We feel that tension here at home just as anywhere else: the cost of living, global unrest, strained relationships, and personal struggles. Yet the message of Christmas is not merely that Christ came once, but that because He came, everything has changed—and will change again.
Each week of Advent highlights a gift Jesus brings:
Hope. In a world longing for answers, Jesus is God’s answer. His birth announces that darkness does not get the final word, because God has acted in history to save us.
Peace. Not just the absence of conflict, but true peace—shalom. Wholeness that comes from being reconciled to God. The angels proclaimed it: “Peace on earth.” Jesus alone makes that peace possible.
Joy. Our valley glows with beauty, but true joy is found in knowing the Creator—who invites us into His family through His Son. Joy rooted in Christ remains steady even when life shakes.
Love. Not the conditional love of the world, but the perfect love of God displayed in Christ: “For God so loved the world that He gave…” The manger leads to the cross, and through the cross God welcomes us home.
Light. Estes Park shines with Christmas lights against our dark winter nights. Yet Jesus is the Light of the World—shining into the deepest darkness, guiding our way, and dispelling fear.
Advent is more than looking back to Bethlehem—it is looking forward with eager expectation. Just as the mountains surrounding our town remind us of strength and permanence, God’s promises stand firm. Jesus, our King of Glory, will come again. He will wipe away every tear, mend what is broken, and make all things new.
As we enjoy this season—its beauty, gatherings, and traditions—may we pause to remember the true center of Christmas. May the hope, peace, joy, love, and light of Jesus fill your heart and home.
The King has come.
The King will come again.
Come, let us adore Him.
Merry Christmas—and may God bless you and your family this Advent.
Aaron Dorman was born and raised in Estes Park. He has been the senior pastor of the Christian Church of Estes Park since 2013.