centered around the hymn “Sometimes a Light Surprises” by William Cowper
Week 1: Surprise!
(sung) Sometimes a light surprises the child of God who sings; it is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings: when comforts are declining, he grants the soul again a season of clear shining to cheer it after rain.
What if I told you Advent was a season of surprises… in our anticipation of the Christ child we open our eyes to all the awe and wonder the season brings. We are surprised by the kindness of strangers and the delight of children. We are surprised by the memories familiar carols spark and we are surprised by the holiness that seems to shroud the world as the shadows lengthen and we know the Light of the world is coming. The hope of the season is that anything is possible… if the Infant Christ can surprise us by slipping into the world as a tiny baby anything is possible.
So… be ready and watchful! Look out into the world with anticipation.
The day is coming…
When the people shall war no more and they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Be ready and watchful! Look out into the world filled with hope.
We will walk in the light of the Lord.
Be ready and watchful and look for the surprises the light brings.
We will watch, we will wait and we will rejoice in the unexpected miracles that the Christ child will bring!
We light the first candle filled with hope. (light the first candle)
(all singing) Sometimes a light surprises the child of God who sings; it is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings: when comforts are declining, he grants the soul again a season of clear shining to cheer it after rain.
Let us pray.
O Holy One, help us to take time in the busyness of this season for quiet reflection. Help us to be surprised by wonder and set aside time to offer quiet thanks. The good news of Advent is this…Christ is coming, Christ is always coming. May we welcome Christ into our hearts and go forth into the world filled with hope. Amen.
Week 2: Pursue
(sung) Sometimes a light surprises the child of God who sings; it is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings: when comforts are declining, he grants the soul again a season of clear shining to cheer it after rain. (light the first candle while the one voice sings)
We often think of Advent as a season of contemplation and preparation. We struggle in the busyness of all the activity to find a much-desired peace. We often feel like we are pursuing something more perfect and more wonderful year after year. What if we stood still for a moment and realized it is Christ who is pursuing us? How does that change the way we think about our relationship with our Savior? Maybe that is the surprise that awaits us in the blessed peace we find in the season of Advent the Christ child is waiting there to greet us.
So… slow down, wake up and greet the Prince of Peace.
Peace seems elusive in this world… not just in the war and discord around the globe but in our lives.
The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them.
We shall pursue peace on this day with the confidence that our Lord desires this for us.
We light the second candle of peace.
(light the second candle)
(all singing) In holy contemplation we sweetly then pursue the theme of God’s salvation and find it ever new; set free from present sorrow, we cheerfully can say, “Let the unknown tomorrow bring with it what it may.”
Let us pray.
Holy God, we have forgotten what it is to be at peace. As we eagerly anticipate the birth of your Son, prepare our hearts to be transformed. We need you to pursue us in the busyness of our days and grant us the beautiful respite of peace. Our world desperately needs it. We desperately need it. Amen.
Week 3: Delight
(sung) Sometimes a light surprises the child of God who sings; it is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings: when comforts are declining, he grants the soul again a season of clear shining to cheer it after rain. (light the first two candles while the one voice sings)
The season of Advent reminds us that the Creator delights over creation. The greatest demonstration of this love and care is God choosing to come and walk around with us… first in the garden and second in the steps of Emmanuel. When the days grow shorter and the calendar is fuller it is easy to forget to delight in the joy that is Advent. It is easy to be consumed by our own personal turmoils and miss God at work calling us to proclaim good news to the poor and release to the captives.
So… Rejoice, lift up your voices and sing.
Joy comes to us through the care of our Creator and we will stand resilient in the delight of the Triune God.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.
We will delight in the hope, peace and joy of Emmanuel
We light the third candle of joy.
(light the third candle)
(all singing) It can bring with it nothing but he will bear us through; who gives the lilies clothing and clothe his people too; beneath the spreading heavens no creature but is fed; and he who feeds the ravens will give his children bread.
Let us pray.
God of surprises, fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared. We must sing and speak to the care you have for even the least among us. Open our hearts to be transformed by your joy, hope and peace. When the night seems too long and the darkness too strong, you light the way for us. Amen.
Week 4 Abiding
(sung) Sometimes a light surprises the child of God who sings; it is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings: when comforts are declining, he grants the soul again a season of clear shining to cheer it after rain. (light the first three candles while the one voice sings)
Advent’s days are coming to a close and we are moving ever-closer to the love-filled stable to see the Holy Family on Christmas morn. As the shepherds were abiding in the field doing their normal routines God was up to something and ready to the surprise the world with something new. As we go about our normal routines God is still at work surprising us everyday with more miracles and glimmers of grace around us. As the longest nights have passed, we are reminded that God’s love abides in us just as it did in a stable warm long ago.
So… Love, love as deeply as a mother sighing over her babe.
We remember that love surprises from the darkness of the womb and the tomb.
The Lord will give you a sign. Look, the young woman shall bear a son and name him, Emmanuel.
Love is with us… a saving love that transforms the world.
God is love and all who love God abide in God and know that God abides in them
We will abide in the hope, peace, joy and love of God with us.
We light the fourth candle filled with love.
(light the fourth candle)
(all singing) Though vine nor fig tree neither their longed-for fruit should bear, though all the fields should wither, nor flocks nor herds be there, yet God the same abiding, his praise shall tune by voice; for while in him confiding, I cannot but rejoice.
Let us pray.
God of love, magnify your love within us. Help us to seek you not in a long ago stable but in the people we meet and in the depth of our own hearts. When the turmoils of the world seem overwhelming may we abide in you and feel nourished in your grace. As we await the final joy of the coming of the Christ may we outdo one another in showing love. Amen.
Christmas Eve: Fulfilled
(sung) Sometimes a light surprises the child of God who sings; it is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings: when comforts are declining, he grants the soul again a season of clear shining to cheer it after rain. (light four candles while the one voice sings)
The night we have long anticipated is here. We have patiently lit the candles of hope, peace, joy and love each week reflecting on how the light grows brighter the closer we draw to the Christ Child. We are ready, may Emmanuel be born to us this night in our hearts, our minds and our lives.
The light has come… ready to surprise a sojourning family, ready to surprise the shepherds, ready to surprise a king, ready to surprise the world. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. This is the light of the world, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.
So… sing, shout, proclaim, Alleluia! The angels have declared the promise has been fulfilled born is the King of kings.
Alleluia! Glory to the newborn King!
For a child has been born for us, a son is given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
This great light lives among us. But it we behold God’s glory. At Christ’s nativity we now rejoice.
We light the candle of Christ’s nativity filled with hope, peace, joy, and love.
(light the Christ candle)
Let us pray.
God of promises fulfilled, we thank you for this night. For the light and love that have entered into this world filled with troubles and despair. May your loving light shine in every corner of the world your peace. May your loving light shine in every heart your grace. May your loving light shine in every community your hope. Alleluia! we sing. Amen.
All Sing “Joy to the World”
submitted by M. Anghaarad Teague Dees, Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Valdosta, Georgia
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