Faithful God, your promises are sure.
Receive the gifts we present to you
as signs of our hope.
Draw us into your kingdom,
which comes in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
Advent
A Spark of…. Advent Candle Liturgies (year B)
Week 1 (Hope) Candle (Isaiah 64, Mark 13)
One: Come, Emmanuel.
The world is over-full of things that do not satisfy.
We watch and prepare, for divine presence to shake our complacency.
~candle is lit~
All: A spark of hope lights the way—
Clearing our vision and renewing our minds
To recognize God’s glory in our midst.
Week 2 (Peace) Candle (Isaiah 40, Mark 1)
One: Come, Emmanuel.
The world is not ready, the field is still uneven,
Yet we watch and prepare to see God’s glory revealed, together.
~candle is lit~
All: A spark of peace lights the way—
Despite our fast-fading courage,
We will follow the voice calling us in the wilderness toward Shalom.
Week 3 (Joy) Candle (Isaiah 61, John 1)
One: Come, Emmanuel.
Days grow short and to-do lists lengthen.
We watch and prepare, for the Word is coming, full of grace and truth.
~candle is lit~
All: A spark of joy lights the way—
Though the flame flickers against the shadows,
We will rejoice in God’s covenant of everlasting love.
Week 4 (Love) Candle (Luke 1)
One: Come, Emmanuel.
The time draws near, each moment magnified
As we watch and prepare, for God is doing great things!
~candle is lit~
All: A spark of love lights the way—
Turning the world around to match the promise:
That we love because God first loved us.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson.
Benediction for Advent, Narrative Lectionary year 4 and John 1
Rejoice! The Word takes on flesh
this season and wherever we live by the Spirit.
Go forth to share the good news of Christ’s coming
this day and forever,
in the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
Advent Candles: Light of the World
Light of the World: Hope from Romans 8:19-25
We gather this morning as the children of God.
In hope that all creation will be set free from bondage and decay.
We offer ourselves as the first fruits of this redemption.
For in hope, we were saved.
We light this candle in the hope that saved us and the hope of what we do not yet see.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Light of the World: Peace from Isaiah 9:2, 6; John 14:27
We gather as people who walked in darkness but have seen a great light.
Once we lived in a land of deep darkness—on us, the light of peace has shined.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father.
He is the Prince of Peace.
We light this candle in the peace of Christ and for the peace the world has yet to know.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Light of the World: Joy from John 15:11, 16:20-22
We gather as people of hope and peace.
May our joy be complete.
Though the broken world may bring us to lament and repentance, our sorrow will turn to joy.
No one can take away the joy Christ completes in us.
We light this candle with the joy of those who have heard and experienced the Word made flesh even as we wait for Christ to come again.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Light of the World: Love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 12
We gather in the love of Christ: a love that is patient and kind; love that is not envious, boastful, arrogant or rude.
In love, we rejoice in the truth.
Through the love of Christ, we find we can bear all things, believe all things, endure all things.
In love, we hope in all things.
We light this candle to declare a love that never ends and for the day when it is fully known in the world.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Submitted by Michelle Henrichs
Opening to the Light–Advent Candle Liturgies
2016 Advent/Christmas Theme: Opening To The Light
Narrative Lectionary Year 3: Daniel 6, Joel 2, Isaiah 61, Luke 1
Lit candle is carried in as congregation sings (tune: Picardy, except last two lines):
As we light the Advent candle
with the light of hope burning bright,
faithfully we wait for his coming;
faithfully it shines through the night.
In our humble hearts a fire burns as well;
hear the prayer these flames would tell.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel.
Candle-bearer: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
week 1 (Daniel 6.6-27):
Liturgist: One candle shines as shadows lengthen and chaos roars—
the dawn of God’s kingdom in our midst.
All: Courage awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
week 2 (Joel 2.12-13, 28-29):
Liturgist: Two candles shine as light peeks through the cracks
and God’s dream overflows.
All: Vision awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
week 3 (Isaiah 61.1-11):
Liturgist: Three candles shine as God’s promise draws near,
beckoning us to be good news in body and spirit.
All: Justice awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
week 4 (Luke 1.26-55):
Liturgist: Four candles shine as God’s purpose is revealed
in word and flesh.
All: Possibility awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
Liturgist: Radiant flash and feeble flame break through;
a long time coming, yet unexpected.
Watching and waiting, we prepare him room.
All: Christ is coming to make all things new,
and we are opening to the Light.
Here is a bulletin-ready version:
week 1:
Lit candle is carried in as congregation sings
As we light the Advent candle
with the light of hope burning bright,
faithfully we wait for his coming;
faithfully it shines through the night.
In our humble hearts a fire burns as well;
hear the prayer these flames would tell.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel.
Candle-bearer: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Liturgist: One candle shines as shadows lengthen and chaos roars—
the dawn of God’s kingdom in our midst.
All: Courage awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
Liturgist: Bright flash and feeble flame break through;
a long time coming, yet unexpected.
Watching and waiting, we prepare him room.
All: Christ is coming to make all things new,
and we are opening to the Light.
week 2
(Lit candle is carried in as congregation sings)
Candle-bearer: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Liturgist: Two candles shine as light peeks through the cracks
and God’s dream overflows.
All: Vision awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
Liturgist: Bright flash and feeble flame break through;
a long time coming, yet unexpected.
Watching and waiting, we prepare him room.
All: Christ is coming to make all things new,
and we are opening to the Light.
week 3:
(Lit candle is carried in as congregation sings)
Candle-bearer: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Liturgist: Three candles shine as God’s promise draws near,
beckoning us to be good news in body and spirit.
All: Justice awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
Liturgist: Bright flash and feeble flame break through;
a long time coming, yet unexpected.
Watching and waiting, we prepare him room.
All: Christ is coming to make all things new,
and we are opening to the Light.
week 4:
(Lit candle is carried in as congregation sings)
Candle-bearer: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Liturgist: Four candles shine as God’s purpose is revealed
in word and flesh.
All: Possibility awakens in us, a spark to brighten the way.
Liturgist: Radiant flash and feeble flame break through;
a long time coming, yet unexpected.
Watching and waiting, we prepare him room.
All: Christ is coming to make all things new,
and we are opening to the Light.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
***song is an excerpt from “Light the Advent Candle” by Ruth Elaine Schram
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