ADVENT CANDLELIGHTING CEREMONY I
Liturgy
Praise the Lord
Litanies, Prayers, And Occasional Services
Object:
FIRST SUNDAY -- THE CANDLE OF ANTICIPATION
The Advent season is a time of great expectation. As Christians we know that the time of great celebration in honor of our Savior's birth is almost here. Each Advent candle is named so that it describes one of the feelings associated with the birth of Christ. The first candle we call the "Candle of Anticipation." The Hebrew people waited with great longing for the one who was to come. As we light this candle let us remember the feeling of great anticipation that was part of all those who awaited the coming of the Messiah.
(Light the first candle. If purple is used, light a purple candle.)
Read
Isaiah 42:5-9
Let us pray.
Eternal God, as your people of old, we are anxious about your coming into our lives. Our anticipation is overshadowed by the fear that we will not be ready for your arrival, or that we will not recognize you when you appear. Keep our hearts and minds open to receive you, that we might feel the joy that your presence ensures. May we anticipate with eager longing your coming again into our world. Amen.
SECOND SUNDAY -- THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION
(Light the candle of Anticipation from last week.)
In anticipation of the coming of Christ into our lives, we must prepare our hearts to receive him. The prophets foretold it, and John the Baptist, in fulfillment of the prophecy, came to help us prepare by calling us to repentance. His task was to make ready the hearts of all those who, like us, would follow Jesus.
(Light the second candle. If purple is used, this is a purple candle.)
Read
Isaiah 40:1-5
Let us pray.
Merciful God, you send messengers to show us the way that we might receive the salvation you offer through Jesus Christ. You call us to repentance that our hearts will be ready to receive you. Help us in this Advent season to do those things that will prepare us for your coming again, that we might know the joy of your salvation. Amen.
THIRD SUNDAY -- THE CANDLE OF INVITATION
(Light the candles of Anticipation and Preparation from the previous two weeks.)
God invites us into wholeness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Christ invites us into full membership in his body, through repentance and baptism. Our anticipation of the joy of union with Christ moves us to preparation of heart and mind, but we must accept the invitation he offers to the fullness of life that his grace allows.
(Light the third candle. If pink is used, light the pink candle.)
Read
Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 11:25-30
Let us pray.
Loving God, you invite us by your love to be the full persons you created us to be. Too often we are fearful of all that it means to be part of the body of Christ, and yet we know that we need the grace you offer through him if our lives are to be complete. Open our ears to hear your call, our hearts to receive your word and our lives to show your praise. May we accept the invitation to life you offer us in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
FOURTH SUNDAY -- THE CANDLE OF TRUST
(Light the candles of Anticipation, Preparation, and Invitation from the previous Sundays.)
We light today's candle in faith, knowing that we can trust in the promises of God. From generation to generation those who trusted in the Lord have not been deceived. God's faithfulness has been sure to those who, by faith, follow the pathway that God set. Mary trusted the message of the angel and, through her faith, was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. By grace we can trust in God for all that we need for the living of our days.
(Light the fourth candle. If purple is used, this is a purple candle.)
Read
Luke 1:46-55
Let us pray.
God of watchful care, you have never disappointed those who trust you. Your faithfulness has been to all generations. We thank you that in Jesus we have the fullness of your promise. Help us to trust you more wholeheartedly, so that we may live in this world free of fear, and follow you boldly even into the uncharted places of life. Amen.
CHRISTMAS EVE -- THE CHRIST CANDLE
(Light the candles of Anticipation, Preparation, Invitation, and Trust from the previous weeks.)
The candle in the center of our Advent wreath represents Jesus Christ, the center of every Christian's life. We anticipated and prepared for his coming, accepted the invitation to be made whole through him, and trusted in his promise to be God with us. Now Jesus has come to illumine our darkness. He has come to bring the light of his love into our individual lives and into our world. Let us open our hearts to receive with joy the Savior of humanity.
Read
John 1:1-5, 10-14
Let us pray.
Illuminate our darkness, God of light and life. Move us beyond the hindrances that impede our way. Dispel the clouds that hide your glory and bring us into the light of your love. We need the peace you bring, and we long for the saving grace you offer. We praise you for the glory of salvation and we worship you with joy now and always. Amen.
The Advent season is a time of great expectation. As Christians we know that the time of great celebration in honor of our Savior's birth is almost here. Each Advent candle is named so that it describes one of the feelings associated with the birth of Christ. The first candle we call the "Candle of Anticipation." The Hebrew people waited with great longing for the one who was to come. As we light this candle let us remember the feeling of great anticipation that was part of all those who awaited the coming of the Messiah.
(Light the first candle. If purple is used, light a purple candle.)
Read
Isaiah 42:5-9
Let us pray.
Eternal God, as your people of old, we are anxious about your coming into our lives. Our anticipation is overshadowed by the fear that we will not be ready for your arrival, or that we will not recognize you when you appear. Keep our hearts and minds open to receive you, that we might feel the joy that your presence ensures. May we anticipate with eager longing your coming again into our world. Amen.
SECOND SUNDAY -- THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION
(Light the candle of Anticipation from last week.)
In anticipation of the coming of Christ into our lives, we must prepare our hearts to receive him. The prophets foretold it, and John the Baptist, in fulfillment of the prophecy, came to help us prepare by calling us to repentance. His task was to make ready the hearts of all those who, like us, would follow Jesus.
(Light the second candle. If purple is used, this is a purple candle.)
Read
Isaiah 40:1-5
Let us pray.
Merciful God, you send messengers to show us the way that we might receive the salvation you offer through Jesus Christ. You call us to repentance that our hearts will be ready to receive you. Help us in this Advent season to do those things that will prepare us for your coming again, that we might know the joy of your salvation. Amen.
THIRD SUNDAY -- THE CANDLE OF INVITATION
(Light the candles of Anticipation and Preparation from the previous two weeks.)
God invites us into wholeness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Christ invites us into full membership in his body, through repentance and baptism. Our anticipation of the joy of union with Christ moves us to preparation of heart and mind, but we must accept the invitation he offers to the fullness of life that his grace allows.
(Light the third candle. If pink is used, light the pink candle.)
Read
Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 11:25-30
Let us pray.
Loving God, you invite us by your love to be the full persons you created us to be. Too often we are fearful of all that it means to be part of the body of Christ, and yet we know that we need the grace you offer through him if our lives are to be complete. Open our ears to hear your call, our hearts to receive your word and our lives to show your praise. May we accept the invitation to life you offer us in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
FOURTH SUNDAY -- THE CANDLE OF TRUST
(Light the candles of Anticipation, Preparation, and Invitation from the previous Sundays.)
We light today's candle in faith, knowing that we can trust in the promises of God. From generation to generation those who trusted in the Lord have not been deceived. God's faithfulness has been sure to those who, by faith, follow the pathway that God set. Mary trusted the message of the angel and, through her faith, was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. By grace we can trust in God for all that we need for the living of our days.
(Light the fourth candle. If purple is used, this is a purple candle.)
Read
Luke 1:46-55
Let us pray.
God of watchful care, you have never disappointed those who trust you. Your faithfulness has been to all generations. We thank you that in Jesus we have the fullness of your promise. Help us to trust you more wholeheartedly, so that we may live in this world free of fear, and follow you boldly even into the uncharted places of life. Amen.
CHRISTMAS EVE -- THE CHRIST CANDLE
(Light the candles of Anticipation, Preparation, Invitation, and Trust from the previous weeks.)
The candle in the center of our Advent wreath represents Jesus Christ, the center of every Christian's life. We anticipated and prepared for his coming, accepted the invitation to be made whole through him, and trusted in his promise to be God with us. Now Jesus has come to illumine our darkness. He has come to bring the light of his love into our individual lives and into our world. Let us open our hearts to receive with joy the Savior of humanity.
Read
John 1:1-5, 10-14
Let us pray.
Illuminate our darkness, God of light and life. Move us beyond the hindrances that impede our way. Dispel the clouds that hide your glory and bring us into the light of your love. We need the peace you bring, and we long for the saving grace you offer. We praise you for the glory of salvation and we worship you with joy now and always. Amen.
