Comfort and Joy invites us to hear again the message of the angels – good news of God’s unfailing love for a world that is weary and hurting.

Taking inspiration from a traditional carol service, Comfort and Joy features weekly reflections throughout Advent, and daily reflections from Christmas day to the second of January, from Kate Bottley, Jonathan Bryan, Bob Chilcot, Martha Collison, Stephen Cottrell, Guli Francis-Dehqani, Chine McDonald, Sally Phillips and Justin Welby.

Beginning on Advent Sunday, each episode explores a Bible reading and a familiar carol, encouraging us to look with fresh eyes at how the timeless truth of Christmas might shape our lives in these extraordinary times.

Advent is about preparing for the second coming of Jesus, in glory on the last day, in the light of his first coming, as a baby in Bethlehem.

When Israel returned from exile in Babylon, it found the comfort of discovering its sins were no longer held against it, and the joy of knowing it was going home. Advent is about the slow realisation that for all the prisons others and ourselves put us in, God has the key. The name of that key is Jesus.

Today’s reflection is written and read by Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

In today’s generosity story we are reminded of the importance of a thank you and how those words can bring so much joy to those who receive them.

As Advent unfolds, John the Baptist emerges to confront us with a challenge and to point us to next steps on the journey.

The question he asks us today, is the same as he asked in his lifetime; how are you preparing to celebrate the coming of Jesus?

Today’s reflection is written and read by Simon Thomas, author, podcaster, and ex-Blue Peter & Sky Sports presenter.

Today’s generosity story comes from Liz in Truro. Liz tells us how she experienced generosity through prayer when undergoing treatment for a brain tumour.

Introduced to the Church of England over 50 years ago by The Children’s Society, Christingle services are beloved traditions in many churches and schools across the country.

After the year we have all lived through, the light and hope symbolised in the Christingle is needed more than ever.

Today’s generosity story comes from the Reverend Christopher Johnson in Leicester. In his story he tells us about an act of remarkable generosity that happens at his church every Christmas.

It’s the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and it might just feel like everything is about ready for Christmas, but in fact the story is just beginning and one of the central characters moves to centre stage: Mary, mother of Jesus.