ADVENT SERVICES

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: HOPE

INTROIT: We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, Come where the dewdrops of mercy are bright, Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the Light of the world.

Reader: Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Hope.

Reader: Our hope is in God, and in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the One appointed by God to be judge of 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 He 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 . . . HOPE

Reader: Let us pray: O God of Hope, Emmanuel, God with us — we pray that You send Your light into our hearts. 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, our time of preparation, may be pleasing unto You - both now -and forevermore. Amen.

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: PEACE

INTROIT: We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, Come where the dewdrops of mercy are bright, Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the Light of the world.

Reader: 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 Baptizer and all the prophets reminded 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, 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 . . HOPE . PEACE

Reader: Let us pray. O God of Peace, Emmanuel, we pray for You to send your light into our hearts. Help us to be ready for the day and the hour of Christ’s appearing. Work in our hearts at this time and help us prepare ourselves for the peace that Christ brings - the inner peace that tells us that we are united with You and the consuming peace that will come when Christ returns to judge the world. Bless our worship that it may be pleasing unto You, and bless us that we may prove to be Your faithful servants. Amen.

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: JOY

INTROIT: We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, Come where the dewdrops of mercy are bright, Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the Light of the world.

Reader: Today is the third Sunday of Advent - the Sunday of Joy.

Reader: Our joy is in God and in God’s 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 God 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 that Christ gives us, for the peace, Christ bestows, and for the joy, Christ pours into our hearts.

Light the First, Second, and Third Candles . HOPE . PEACE . JOY

Reader: 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 things that 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

INTROIT: Hark the herald angels sing, Jesus the Light of the world: Glory to the newborn King, Jesus the Light of the world. (Refrain) We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, Come where the dewdrops of mercy are bright, Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the Light of the world.

Reader: Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, 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 Christ and live in Christ, 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 hope God gives us, for the peace God bestows, for the joy God pours into our hearts, and for the love that redeems us and shows us the way.

Light the First, Second, Third and Fourth Candles . HOPE . PEACE . JOY . LOVE

Reader: 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 Christ that his Perfect Love fills our entire being. Make our worship a time to celebrate your Love and make us ready to show that Love to the whole world - both today - and forevermore. Amen.

THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

Hymn: Hark the herald angels sing, Jesus the Light of the world: Glory to the newborn King, Jesus the Light of the world. (Refrain) We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, Come where the dewdrops of mercy are bright, Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the Light of the world.

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

Reader: We thank God for God’s gift of Jesus, the Christ. We thank God that through Christ, light has come into the world and made it possible for us to see, and in seeing, to rejoice. His truth, His love, His very self, transforms all who receive him.

Light the First, Second, Third, Fourth and the Christ Candles . HOPE . PEACE . JOY . LOVE . CHRIST

Reader: 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 as we worship and serve You through Christ Jesus our Lord, this both now, in the New Year, and forevermore. Amen.