The First Sunday of Advent – Hope

Today is the First Sunday of Advent.  Today is the Sunday of Hope.

      Read:  Isaiah 9:2 and 7:14 

Reader: Our hope is in God, and in his Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the one appointed by God to be judge over all things.  He is the one through whom God has promised to save and redeem his people. 

Reader: We light this candle today to remind us that Jesus is our hope – and the hope of the world.  We thank God for the promises he has made to us and for the light he has brought into the world.   

Light the First Candle. 

Let us pray.
O God of Hope, Emmanuel, we pray that you will send your light into our hearts during this season of Advent.  Help us to be ready for the day and the hour of Christ’s final appearing.  Live in us and help us to live in you.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, transform us so that our worship, our celebration, and our time of preparation may be pleasing unto you – both now and forevermore.  Amen.

The Second Sunday of Advent – Peace

Last week was the First Sunday of Advent, and was the Sunday of Hope.  Today is the Second Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Peace.   

Reader:  Our peace is found in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist and all the prophets remind us – that to receive peace we must be prepared for it.   

Reader:  We light this candle today to remind us that Christ is the Prince of Peace – he is the one promised from the beginning of the world.  We thank God for the hope he gives us and for the peace he bestows.   

Light the First and Second Candles.

Let us pray.

O God of Peace, Emmanuel, we pray that you will send your light into our hearts during this season of Advent.  Help us to be ready for the day and the hour of Christ’s appearing.  Work in our hearts and help us to prepare for the peace that he brings – the inner peace that tells us that we are united with you – and the outer peace which will come when he returns to judge the world.  Amen.

The Third Sunday of Advent – Joy

The First Sunday of Advent was the Sunday of Hope.  Last week, the Second Sunday of Advent, was the Sunday of Peace.  Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is the Sunday of Joy.   

Reader:  Our Joy is in God and in his Son Jesus Christ.  Like peace, joy is a gift from God.  It overtakes us and fills us when we remember what God has done and what he has promised to do. 

Reader:  We light this candle today to remind us that Christ came, and is coming again – so that all people might have a rich and abundant life.  We thank God for the hope he gives us, for the peace he bestows, and for the joy he pours into our hearts. 

 The candle for the Third Sunday of Advent is pink to remind us of the coming joy of the birth of Jesus Christ.   

Light the First, Second, and Third Candles.

Let us pray.

O God of Joy, Emmanuel, send your light into our hearts at this time.  Help us to be ready for the time of Christ’s appearing.  Fix our hearts and our minds upon those things you have done and those you have promised to do – that we may have the joy you have promised.  As we worship you, strengthen us so that we may always do your will and so bless you and the world you have made.  Amen. 

The Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love

During the first three Sundays of Advent, we lit the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy.  Today, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, is the Sunday of Love. 

Reader:  Jesus shows us God’s perfect love.  He is God’s perfect love in human form.  Those who believe in him and live in him, live in love.  Love transforms and perfects all things.  It never ends. 

Reader:  We light this candle today to remind us that God is love.  We thank God for the hope he gives us, for the peace he bestows on us, for the joy he pours into our hearts, and for the love that redeems us and shows us the way. 

 Light the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Candles.

Let us pray.

O God of Love, Emmanuel, send your light into our hearts at this time.  Help us to be ready for the time of Christ’s appearing.  Grant that we may so dwell in him that his perfect love fills our entire being.  Make our worship a time in which we celebrate your love, so that we are made ready to show that same love to the whole world – both today and forevermore.  Amen. 

The First Sunday after Christmas

During the four Sundays of Advent, we lit the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.  Today on the Sunday after Christmas, we light the Christ Candle. 

Reader:  As we light these candles today, we thank God for the hope he gives us, for the peace he gives us, for the joy he pours into our hearts, and for the love that redeems us and shows us the way. 

Reader:  We thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ.  We thank him that through the birth of Christ, his light has come into the world.  He has made it possible for us to see hope, peace, joy, and love.  He has, therefore, made it possible for each person who knows Jesus to be transformed by his love. 

Light the four Advent Candles and the center Christ Candle.

Let us pray.

Loving God, Emmanuel, we thank you for being with us – for sending your Son to walk with us and to lead us.  Grant that the hope, the peace, the joy, and the love of which we have heard and spoken of throughout Advent may be fully realized in us this Christmas season as we worship and serve you through Christ Jesus our Lord 

Blessing of a Christmas Tree
When your Christmas tree is up and decorated, those present may gather

around it and the following prayer is said:

Dear God, two thousand years ago you brought your son, Jesus Christ into this world to teach us the power of love and sacrifice.  As we raise and decorate this tree, we remember his birth and the meaning of his life for us.  Bless this tree as a symbol of our celebration of Jesus’ birth and our gratitude for his sacrifice.  May the joy this tree brings and the gifts we place under it remind us of the many gifts you have given us.  We ask your blessing upon our home and loved ones, this day and always, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.