Liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Fourth Candle:
The Love and Angels Candle
(purple)

We Celebrate the growing brightness & We Celebrate that His coming is closer!

The angels were the first creatures to proclaim the coming…

They came to Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, and to the shepherds…
to tell them that God was going to send a Savior so that we would know that He loves us!

Voice 1: The Fourth Candle of Advent is the Candle of Love.

Its light reminds us of the love that God had for us!

John 3:16
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only Son…

Voice 2: Jesus shows us God’s perfect love… He is God’s love in human form.

Voice 3: Love is patient… Love is kind and envies no one.Love is never boastful or conceited, rude or selfish. Love is not quick to take offense, it keeps no record of wrongs, it does not gloat over other people’s troubles but rejoices in the right, the
good, and the true. There is nothing that love cannot face; there is no limit to its
faith…to its hope…Love never fails!

Voice 4: We light this candle today to remind us of
how God’s perfect love is found in Jesus.

~Light the Three Purple Candles,
And the One Rose Candle~

Prayer:
Loving God,
We thank You for your love!
Thank you for Jesus.
Help us to receive the Gift of Your son.
Help us to be worthy of that love
by loving others in Your name.
Amen.

Hymn:
Love Came Down at Christmas

~Extinguish Candles~

Third Sunday of Advent: Liturgy

Today is the Third Sunday of Advent

We Light the Third Candle:The Rose Candle(pink)

Today is also known as “White Gift Sunday.”

White Gift Sunday dates back to 1904 in Ohio. It was the idea of the wife of a Methodist minister and her two daughters. Borrowing from a Chinese tradition
in which the people gave their king gifts wrapped in plain white paper so that every gift would look the same, the women created this day, the third Sunday of advent, as a day when parishioners could bring gifts to the church for others in the community who were in need. As with the Chinese tradition, the white paper allows for the ability for each person to be able to give what they are able, anonymously so that people who can only give a little will not be embarrassed.

The White Gift shares in the spirit of Christ and the God of love at Christmas. God loved us and gave the gift of His Son to us to show that love. In turn, we give gifts of love to people in need, throught the year and as Christmastime.

White Gift Sunday celebrates the stewardship of God’s love and giving at the time of year when we remember the coming of the King of Kings.

Advent Liturgy~

Voice 1: The Third Candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. It reminds us of the joy that Mary felt when the angel, Gabriel told her that a special child would be born to her- a child who would save and deliver the world.

Voice 2: God wants us all to experience Joy!The angel who announced to the shepherds that Jesus had been born told them: “Fear Not! I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy for all people. Unto you is born this day…A Savior …The Messiah!”

Voice 3: We light this candle to remember that Jesus brings gifts to us…
Sight for the blind…
Dancing for the crippled…
Freedom for captives…
Beauty for ashes…
Laughter for mourning…
Peace for despair…

Voice 4: We light this candle today to remind us that He brings Joy to all who trust in Him.

~Light the Two Purple Candles,And the One Rose Candle~

Prayer:
Loving God,
We thank You for the joy that you bring us.
Help us prepare for this gift.
Bless our Christmas preparations.
Fill us with your joy.
Help us to know how to bring Your joy to others.
Amen.

Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 61

Hymn:
Joy to the World!

~Extinguish Candles~

Second Sunday of Advent: An Easy to Do-at-Home Liturgy

Today, We Light the Second Candle:
It is "The Peace of Bethlehem Candle," and it is also purple.

It Symbolizes Peace

Prayer:

Loving God,
We Desperately need the Peace that you have promised.
We know that such peace is only found in Jesus.
Thank you for giving us Jesus.
Thank you for the peace you give us through Him.
Help us to prepare our hearts to receive Him.
Bless our hearts, soften our hearts,
Humble our lowly hearts as we receive your peace.
Amen.

~Light the Two Purple Candles~

Voice 1: The Second Candle of Advent is the “Candle of Peace”. It is sometimes called the “Bethlehem Candle” to remind us of the place and the preparations that were made to receive and cradle the Christ-child.

Voice 2: The Angels proclaimed: “Peace on Earth!” and announced God’s that God’s intention is to bestow peace upon us through the gift of His Son. Peace is a gift, and we must actively receive it. God gives us the gift of peace when we turn to Him in faith.

Voice 3: The prophet Isaiah calls Christ the “Prince of Peace.” Through John the Baptist and the other prophets, God asks us to prepare our hearts for the Christ-child’s coming. We are like Bethlehem… We decide whether out hearts will be like the Inn- no room…or like the lowly manger- humbly willing to house the King of Kings.

Voice 4: Our hope is in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ. Our peace is found in Him. We light this candle to remind us of the peace He brings us.

Prayer:

Loving God, thank you for the peace you give us in Jesus.
Thank you for preparing our hearts to receive Him.
As this Season of Advent continues, and throughout the year,
Continue to Bless and soften our hearts,that we might continue to Receive,
and then to Re-transmit Your Peace.
Help us to be Your Peace to a World that so desperately needs it.
We ask in the name of the One Born in Bethlehem…
Amen.

Hymn: Silent Night

~Extinguish Candles~