ADVENT RING LIGHTING CEREMONY

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: HOPE

Every Sunday of Advent the candle lighting is preceded by a brief Call to Worship

VOICE - Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday in which we recall the hope we have in Christ.

VOICE - The prophets of Israel all spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a saviour would be born, a king in the line of David. They spoke of how he would rule the world wisely and bless all nations.

VOICE - On Christmas day the Christ of our hope was born. On Good Friday the Christ of our hope died. On Easter day the Christ of our hope rose from the dead. He then ascended into heaven. On the last day, the Christ of our hope will come again to establish his kingdom over all things on earth.

VOICE - As the follower of Christ, we await his return. We light this candle to remember that as he came to us as humbly in the manger at Bethlehem and gave light to the world, so he is coming again in power to deliver his people.

VOICE - We light this candle to remind us to be alert and to watch for his return.

Light the First Candle

VOICE - LET US PRAY - Loving God, we thank you for the hope you give us. Help us prepare our hearts for the Lord's coming. Bless our worship. Help us live holy and righteous lives. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: PEACE

Every Sunday of Advent the candle lighting is preceded by a brief Call to Worship

VOICE - Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath, the candle of hope. We light it again as we remember that Christ will come again to fulfil all of God's promises to us.

(a person lights the candle of hope)

VOICE - The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace. It is sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle to remind us of the place in which preparations were made to receive and cradle the Christ child.

VOICE - Peace is a gift that we must be prepared for. God gives us the gift of peace when we turn to him in faith.

VOICE - The prophet Isaiah calls Christ "the Prince of Peace." Through John the Baptist and all the other prophets, God asks us to prepare our hearts so that he may come in.

VOICE - Our hope is in God, and in his son Jesus Christ. Our peace is found in him. We light this candle today to remind us that he brings peace to all who trust in him.

Light the Second Candle

VOICE - LET US PRAY - Loving God, thank you for the peace you give us through Jesus. Help us prepare our hearts to receive Him. Bless our worship. Guide us in all that we say and do. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: WHITE GIFT SUNDAY - JOY

Every Sunday of Advent the candle lighting is preceded by a brief Call to Worship

VOICE - Last Sunday the candle of peace was lit. We light it and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring to the world everlasting peace.

(a person lights the candles of hope, and peace.)

VOICE - The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. It reminds of the joy that Mary felt when the angel Gabriel told he that a special child would be born to her - a child who would save and deliver his people.

VOICE - God wants us all to have joy. The angel who announced to the shepherds that Jesus had been born told them: "Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all people - for to you is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

VOICE - We light this candle to remember that Christ brings the promise of a new life - a life in which the blind receive sight, the lame walk, and the prisoners are set free. We light it to remember that He is the bringer of true and everlasting joy.

Light the Third Candle

VOICE - LET US PRAY - Loving God, we thank you for the joy you bring us. Help us prepare our hearts for this gift. Bless our worship. Help us to hear and to do your word. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: LOVE

Every Sunday of Advent the candle lighting is preceded by a brief Call to Worship

VOICE - Last Sunday we lit the candle of joy. We light it and the candles of hope and peace again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring us everlasting peace and joy.

(a person lights the candles of hope, peace, and joy)

VOICE - The fourth candle of Advent is the Candle of Love. It's light is meant to remind us of the love that God has for us.

VOICE - Jesus shows us God's perfect love. He is God's love in human form. The bible says that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

VOICE - 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 offence, it keeps no records 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, to its endurance. Love never ends.

VOICE - We light this candle today to remind us of how God's perfect love is found in Jesus

Light the Fourth Candle

VOICE - LET US PRAY Loving God, we thank you for your gift of love - show to us perfectly in Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us prepare our hearts to receive Him. Bless our worship. Help us to hear and do your word. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen

CHRISTMAS EVE

LIGHTING THE WAY

Words of Welcome & Lighting The Advent Candles:

L: The Lord be with you.

P: And also with you.

L: We gather to celebrate the birth of the one who is the light of the world.

P: We are here to worship God - and his Son Jesus - born this night in Bethlehem of Judea.

L: We light the candle of hope to remind us of the promises made by all the prophets that God would raise up a saviour for his people Israel.

P: Christ is our hope and our salvation. He calls us to share our hope in him with each other.

L: We light the candle of peace to remind us that it is only with God and by following in his path that true peace can be found.

P: Christ brings the peace of God to us. He calls us to share the peace he gives with each other.

L: We light the candle of joy to remind us that God gives joy to every heart that abides in him.

P: As Mary rejoiced in the birth of Jesus - so his birth in us brings us joy. God calls us to share the joy he gives with each other.

L: We light the candle of love to remind us that Jesus is God's gift of love to us - and that in him, the light of love triumphs over darkness.

P: Love never fails - it transforms all those who give it and receive it. God calls us to share his love with each other.

Lighting The Christ Candle

L: We light the Christ candle to remind us that the light of the world was born this night.

P: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness - on them a light has shined.

L: You, O Lord, have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy.

P: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder.

L: His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

P: He is also called Emmanuel, for in him God is with us.

Unison Prayer of Approach

P: Almighty God - you have made this night holy by the gift of your son, born of the Holy Spirit and of Mary. Upon him rested all your grace, through him has come all your mercy. Let his light shine within our hearts tonight even more brightly than it shines from the candles in this place. Help us to hear your word and to celebrate your everlasting love through him. Amen

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

"There are two ways of spreading light; to be a candle, or the mirror that reflects it."

Lord God, as we light this candle to remind us of your hope, peace, joy, and love help us to witness to the Light of the World, your son Jesus who came as a babe at Bethlehem and will come again in glory. Grant that we may be candles and mirrors of your light to a dark and waiting world. Come, Lord Jesus!

Lighting the Candle: (Isaiah 9:2, 6)

L: We light this candle Lord to remind us of the hope, peace, joy, and love you gave us in the birth of our Saviour. As we look forward to celebrating his Coming among us as a Babe at Bethlehem and watch for his Coming again may your loving, guiding presence be with us. Make us to rejoice in the hope of our salvation. O come, O come, Emmanuel!

Christmas Litany:

L: In joyful expectation we pray to you our Saviour and Redeemer. Blessed are you, O Lord our God! We bring you our praise and thanksgiving.

P: You have opened the eyes of our hearts so that we may see. We are no longer bound by our blindness to live with no hope. You have invited us to be caught up in your vision of a new order of things. With Mary, we can say, "My soul magnifies the Lord...."

L: Because Jesus took on our flesh, life itself is filled with new meaning and dignity. "The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory...full of grace and truth."

P: "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Thank you, Lord.

L: We are in your debt Lord. You are faithful when we are not. "Your faithfulness endures to all generations." Your promises are sure and your love is steadfast.

P: We ask you Lord to teach us to love others as you have loved us. Lord hear our prayer.

L: Thank you Lord for the blessings of home and family and friends. In and through them we learn the joy of loving and being loved.

P: We praise you God Most High for these rich blessings.

L: Lord we celebrate your coming to us in Jesus your Son. Prepare us for that joyful day when he will come again. In the meantime, accept our imperfect offerings - our broken selves - as we struggle to be faithful, as we yearn for your coming when all will be made new.

ALL: Glory and Honour and Praise and Thanksgiving be unto you O Lord Most High. Come to us soon, Emmanuel. Amen.

Thanks to Joe and Gemma