In the midst of winter, life is scarce. Animals have migrated or are hibernating. The colors of life found in fruits and flowers of spring and summer have gone out with he leaves in a final flash. The sky turns gray and we settle in for a long winter’s night. But consider the evergreens. They do not lose their color, even in the season when they are not producing seeds or fruit. They remind us that even in the dark stillness of winter, life is present. They stand out amongst the gray to tell of God’s faithfulness as a symbol of ongoing life. The evergreens are the trees of the advent people. They show us that in our waiting, we are not to despair. For God has promised life to those who seek God, and God is good to fulfill those promises. 5Remember the wonders he has done,his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,6you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. 7He is the Lord our God;his judgments are in all the earth. 8He remembers his covenant forever,the promise he made, for a thousand generations,9the covenant he made with Abraham,the oath he swore to Isaac. 10He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,to Israel as an everlasting covenant:11“To you I will give the land of Canaanas the portion you will inherit.” Prayer: O God of the evergreens, we thank you for life and the promise of life to come. We are grateful for the reminders around us that you are working to bring about the fulfillment of your promises. We thank you for your evergreen nature.