Fourth Sunday in Advent
Worship
More Services for the Advent Wreath
For Lectionary Cycle B
Object:
(Distribute this sheet to the readers.)
Date: _________________________
Reader A: ________________________________
Reader B: __________________________________
Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)
Litany
Reader A: Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
[God said,] "I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God.
Scripture
Reader B: Listen to the words of how God declared his love for David by making promises to him and his people:
Reader A: After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.
Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
" 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you....' "
Lighting Of The Four Advent Candles
Reader B: On this fourth Sunday in Advent, along with the candles of hope, peace, and joy, we now light the candle of love. We are the children of God because of God's love for us.
(While Reader B is reading, Reader A uses the small candle at the back of the wreath to take the light from the altar candle and transfer it to all four candles on the wreath. DO NOT light the center candle. Extinguish the small candle and return it to the back of the wreath.)
Prayer
Reader B: Let us pray:
Almighty God, we are in awe of the magnitude of your love for us. Soon we will celebrate the extent of that love -- the sending of your only Son to us. For this, we give you praise. Amen.
Introit
(As the introit is being sung again, the readers may be seated.)
Date: _________________________
Reader A: ________________________________
Reader B: __________________________________
Introit
(As the introit is being sung, Readers A and B come forward and stand by the Advent wreath until the music is finished.)
Litany
Reader A: Please turn to the Advent litany in your bulletins.
(Pause as they do so.)
[God said,] "I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God.
Scripture
Reader B: Listen to the words of how God declared his love for David by making promises to him and his people:
Reader A: After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.
Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
" 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you....' "
Lighting Of The Four Advent Candles
Reader B: On this fourth Sunday in Advent, along with the candles of hope, peace, and joy, we now light the candle of love. We are the children of God because of God's love for us.
(While Reader B is reading, Reader A uses the small candle at the back of the wreath to take the light from the altar candle and transfer it to all four candles on the wreath. DO NOT light the center candle. Extinguish the small candle and return it to the back of the wreath.)
Prayer
Reader B: Let us pray:
Almighty God, we are in awe of the magnitude of your love for us. Soon we will celebrate the extent of that love -- the sending of your only Son to us. For this, we give you praise. Amen.
Introit
(As the introit is being sung again, the readers may be seated.)
