St. George. Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH Sunday of Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ

Transcription

1 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 2587 W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH Sunday of Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ Serving the Orthodox Christian Community of Greater Cleveland

2 St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, Pastor Office: (216) Fax: (216) Cellular: (440) Archdeacon Yarid Sahley Subdeacon Sam Elias Pastor s frjojaimi@msn.com Parish office@stgeorgecleveland.com Sunday December 11, 2016 Tone 8/ Eothinon 03 Sunday of Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ Venerable Daniel the Stylite; Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon; Nikon the dry of the Kiev Caves; Venerable Leontios of Achaia; Martyr Barsabbas of Persia WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS We are glad you are worshiping with us today. There are Service Books in the pews. Orthodox Christians must be prepared for Holy Communion through Confession, Fasting, Prayer and by being at peace with others. Please seek and give forgiveness before receiving Holy Communion. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, please join us for coffee hour in the Parish Hall. t ½Êà The mission of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Is to serve God and the community by commitment to the Gospel s command to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ through faith, hope, and love. It is a parish of the Self Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The Orthodox Church follows the faith and practice of the apostles and disciples of Christ handed down by the ancient Christian fathers and twenty centuries of Church tradition. Genuine Christian life nurtures and stimulates our spiritual and moral development. The liturgical life of the Orthodox Church has been developing over the last 2000 years. By taking part in the mysteries of Christ s life, death and resurrection at the liturgical services, the community members are drawn to repentance and the gradual change of their inner selves. To join the community of St. George or to find out more information, please fill out the Guest Book in the Narthex. We hope this day will be spiritually rewarding for you. Fr John will be happy to answer any questions. Join us in the hall after Liturgy for our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.

3 Bread of Oblation, Trisagion Prayers and Wheat (1 year) are offered in memory of Elias Bouchahine by his wife Rajaa and Family Bread of Oblation is offered for the Health & Safety of George & Nayla Aboumrad & Family Bread of Oblation is offered for the Health & Safety of Dr. Bob Haddad & George Shiekh (Birthday Prayers) by Barbara Aboid Coffee Hour is offered for the Health & Safety of Barbara Aboid (Birthday Wishes) by The Aboid Family Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of: Zeina Elias by Salim & Addie Hayek & Family My Children & Grandchildren by Nuha Karsheh Barbara Aboid (Birthday Wishes) by The Aboid Family Salina Salamah (trip to India, Dec. 8) by Mon, Dad & Anthony Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of: Michel Hayek by the Hayek Family My Beloved, Mother Mary, Father Abraham, Brothers Emile and James, Sitteh Zaineh & Uncle Kaiser by Emilie L. Easa Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & Family Edward Haddad by his wife Edward Fadel by his wife & family Prayers are requested for the sick, sufferings, shut-ins needy, homeless, victims of disasters, war and violence in the whole universe. Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:52-54 With fear of God, faith And love draw near. Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you we are waiting for you. UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES Saturday December 17, 2016 Vespers 4:30 pm Sunday December 18, 2016 Matins 9:30 am, Divine am Confessions will be heard on Sundays Morning before Liturgy starts or by appointment. Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Pick a birthday, memorial, anniversary etc.. or just a day that no one has sponsored.

4 Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, December 11, 2016 Tone 8/ Eothinon 03; Sunday of Forefathers (Ancestors) of Christ Venerable Daniel the Stylite; Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon; Nikon the dry of the Kiev Caves; Venerable Leontios of Achaia; Martyr Barsabbas of Persia

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8 Christ's Holy Forefathers The Saints of The Old Testament In the two weeks leading up to Christmas, the Church remembers the Holy Forefather s of Jesus Christ; in other words, the Old Testament Saints who preceded Christ in the flesh, prophesised His coming, or prefigured Him. In iconography, the Old Testament Saints can appear by themselves, in scenes from their lives, or like here in anachronistic compositions. In the left bottom corner is Adam, the original forefather of Jesus humanity, and all of us. He gestures to the figure in the bottom centre, the Patriarch Abraham, holding a child symbolizing the promise made to him that even as an old man his progeny would be numbered as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. To confirm the fulfilment of this prophecy, the child himself gestures to his left, where Abraham s grandson Jacob stands holding a cloth containing his twelve sons: the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Flanking Abraham is Enoch and Isaac, hands raised in a sign of humility. Along the top, from left to right, stands the prophet Isaiah, the Psalmist King David, the Prophet Daniel amid the Three Holy Youths, Aaron the Levite, and Joshua. Being well-known for their prayerful attitude and faithfulness to the orah, the Three Holy Youths, Daniel, and Aaron all wear kippahs topped with phylacteries. Below Aaron is his brother Moses, also wearing kippah and phylactery. On the left wearing a crown of authority is the last of the Hebrew judges, Samuel. Besides his name being inscribed in his halo, Samuel is easily recognized by the golden horn he holds, used to anoint the first two kings of the nation of Israel: Saul and David. Below Samuel is Jeremiah, holding a scroll of his own prophecy, as is the Prophet Zechariah on the far right or Jeremiah. Zechariah is also holding the seven-branched Menorah, a common liturgical ornament of the Temple, which this prophet helped to rebuild. To the right of Zechariah is Righteous Noah, considered a prefiguration of Christ, and holding the Ark of Salvation, a prefiguration of the Mother of God, who held within her our Salvation. To the left of Jeremiah is a prefiguration of John the Baptist: the Prophet Elijah (or Elias in greek). Like the Saint who came after him, Elijah is recognizable by the coat of animal hair which he wears. Another example of an icon of Elijah is here Flanked by a prefiguration of John the Baptist and the Theotokos on either side, the figure in the center can only be an Old Testament prefiguration of Jesus Christ. That figure is the Royal Priest, the King of Salem, the person who came distributing bread and wine, and the person to whom Abraham, the Patriarch of the Hebrews gave tithes: Melchizedek The Services of Christmas in the Orthodox Church by Rev. Alexander Schmemann The Nativity Cycle As Orthodox Christians, we begin the celebration of the Nativity of Christ (December 25) with a time of preparation. Forty days before the feast of the birth of Our Lord we enter the period of the Christmas Fast, to purify both soul and body to enter properly into and partake of the great spiritual reality of Christ's Coming. This fasting season does not constitute the intense liturgical season that is characteristic of Great Lent, rather, Christmas Lent is more of an "ascetical" rather than "liturgical" nature. Nevertheless, the Christmas fasting season is reflected in the life of the Church in a number of liturgical notes that announce the coming feast. Within the forty days preparation the theme of the approaching Nativity is introduced in the services and liturgical commemorations, little by little. If the beginning of the fast on November 15 is not liturgically marked by any hymn, five days later, on the eve of the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, we hear the first announcement from the nine "Irmoi" of the Christmas Canon: "Christ is born, glorify Him!" With these words something changes in our life, in the very air we breathe, in the entire mood of the Church's life. It is as if we perceive far, far away, the first light of the greatest possible joy -- the coming of God into His world! Thus the Church announces the coming of Christ, the Incarnation of God, His entrance into the world for its salvation.

9 Then, on the two Sundays preceding Christmas, the Church commemorates the Forefathers and the Fathers: the prophets and the Saints of the Old Testament who prepared that coming, who made history itself into the expectation, the waiting for, the salvation and reconciliation of mankind with God. Finally, on December 20th, the church begins the Forefeast of the Nativity, whose liturgical structure is similar to the Holy week preceding Pascha -- for the birth of the Son of God as child is the beginning of the saving ministry which will lead Him, for the sake of our salvation, to the ultimate sacrifice of the Cross. The Eve of the Nativity The liturgical services of December 24th, the Eve of the Nativity, are: The Hours - Vespers, and The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.. Coming at the end of the Forefeast, and indeed of the entire "Advent," the Hours summarise all the themes of the feast and make them into a last and solemn announcement. In the special Psalms, hymns and biblical readings prescribed for each hour, the joy and power of Christ's Coming are proclaimed. It is one last meditation on the cosmical meaning of the Nativity, on the decisive and radical change it performed in the entire creation. Vespers, which usually follows the Hours, inaugurates the celebration of the feast itself, for, as we know, the liturgical day begins in the evening. The tone of this celebration is given by the five stichera on "Lord, I call..." What they really are is an explosion of joy for the gift of Christ's Incarnation which is now fulfilled! Eight biblical readings show that Christ is the fulfillment of all prophecies, that His Kingdom is the Kingdom "of all ages," that all human history finds its meaning in it, and the entire cosmos its centre. The Liturgy of St. Basil which follows Vespers was in the past the baptismal liturgy at which catechumens were baptised, chrismated and integrated into the Church, the Body of Christ. The double joy of the feast, for the newly-baptised and other members of the Church, is reflected in the prokeimenon of the day: "The Lord said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of me, and I shall give Thee the nations for Thine I nheritance, and the ends of the earth as Thy possession. " Then, at the end of the Liturgy, the celebrant, taking a lighted candle to the very centre of the Church, and surrounded by the entire congregation, intones the Troparion and kontakion of the feast: "Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, Has shone to the world the light of wisdom. For by it, those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore Thee, The Sun of Righteousness, And to know Thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to Thee!" The Vigil and the Liturgy Since Vespers of the feast already have been celebrated, the Vigil begins with Great Compline and the joyful proclamation from Isaiah "God is with us!" The order of Matins is that of a great feast. Now, for the first time, the full Canon "Christ is born," one of the most beautiful canons in Orthodox worship, is sung while the faithful venerate the icon of Christ's Nativity. The Praises follow, summarising the joy and themes of the entire feast: "Make glad, O you righteous! Greatly rejoice, O heavens! Dance for joy, O mountains; for Christ is born! The virgin has become like the cherubic throne. She carries at her bosom God the Word, made flesh. Shepherds glorify the newborn child. Wise men offer the master gifts. Angels praise Him and sing: O Lord, past understanding, glory to Thee!" Concluding the celebration of the Nativity of Christ is the Liturgy of the day itself with its festal antiphons proclaiming:... "The Lord will send Thee the sceptre of power from Zion: "Rule in the midst of Thine enemies." With Thee is dominion on the day of Thy birth, in the radiance of holiness". The Post-feast On the second day of the feast, the Synaxis of the Theotokos is celebrated. Combining the hymns of the Nativity with those celebrating the Mother of God, the Church points to Mary as the one through whom the Incarnation was made possible. His humanity -- concretely and historically -- is the humanity He received

10 from Mary. His Body is, first of all, her body, His life is her life. This feast, the assembly in honour of the Theotokos, is probably the most ancient feast of Mary in the Christian tradition, the very beginning of her veneration by the Church. Six days of post-feast bring the Christmas season to a close on December 31, At the services of all these days, the Church repeats the hymns and songs glorifying Christ's Incarnation, reminding us that the source and the foundation of our salvation is only to be found in the One who, as God before the ages, came into this world and for our sake was "born as a little Child." Ornaments are a wonderful gift to give year round, perfect for any occasion, be it Christmas, Birthdays, Graduations, Anniversaries, Baptisms, Name Day or just a simple house visit. These beautiful pieces can be hung on the wall during the year as well as hung on a Christmas Tree during the Nativity Season. Ornaments are available for sale at Yarid Hall during Coffee Hour. RESERVE THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDER December 18, 2016 Sunday School Pageant ^ƵŶĚĂLJ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ Ϭϴ ϮϬϭϳ K Ƶƌ WĂƌŝƐŚ ŶŶƵĂů D ĞĞƟŶŐ Saturday January 28, 2017 Magical Feast ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϭ ϮϬϭϴ ^ƵŶĚĂLJ ^ĐŚŽŽů s ĂůĞŶƟŶĞ WĂƌƚLJ

11 The Teens Group Meets every Sunday after Church In The Teens Room If you re a Teen Join us For fun and Education The choir will have its Rehearsal on 6:30 pm Check with Milan and Come be a part of this ministry and make a joyful noise unto the Lord. St. George Orthodox Young Professionals Fellowship Next Meeting Thursday February 09, :30 pm St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church 2587 W.14th St. Cleveland. ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN OF ST. GEORGE There will be NO Meeting in January Have a Blessed Christmas and Rejoice in the Birth of our LORD!! We will be having our next Meeting on Monday, February 06, :00 p.m. In Yarid Hall at the Church. God willing, see you there!

12 Antiochian Orthodox Christian Awards Program /ŶƐƚĂůů ƚśğ ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƵƩ ŽŶ ŽŶ LJŽƵƌ Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer browser to ĂƵƚŽŵĂƟĐĂůůLJ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŽƵƌ ŵŝŷŝɛƚƌlj Ğǀ ĞƌLJ ƟŵĞ you shop on an approved site you will see this small cross appear &ƌğƌƶğŷƚůlj ĂƐŬĞĚ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ How do I know what is contributed from my purchase? Program Overview Each vendor lists the percentage given back as you enter a site and begin shopping. What type of items can I purchase? ůŝđŭ ƵŶĚĞƌ ĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŵăŭğ LJŽƵƌ ƐĞůĞĐƟŽŶ Žƌ ƐƉĞŶĚ ƟŵĞ ďƌžǁ ƐŝŶŐ ƚśƌžƶőś ƚśğ ŵăŷlj vendors including apparel, shoes, office supplies, hotels, rental cars, travel, floral and food deliveries, contacts, electronics, make-up, ŚĞĂůƚŚ ĂŶĚ ďğăƶƚlj ŝƚğŵɛ ƐƉŽƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƌğđƌğăɵžŷ food and dining, art and music, entertainment, ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ Ɛ ƚžljɛ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƐĞĂƐŽŶĂů ŝƚğŵɛ ŐŝŌ cards, and so much more. t ŚĂƚ ŝɛ ƚśğ ŐŝŌ ĐĂƌĚ ŵăůů How do I Sign Up? Go online to: ĂŶƟŽĐŚŝĂŶ ŽƌŐ ƌğǁ ĂƌĚƐƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ and register with your Remember to visit the site prior to making online purchases to enable a ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ƚž LJŽƵƌ ŵŝŷŝɛƚƌlj ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĐŽǀ Ğƌ savings offers.. And K ƉƟŽŶĂůůLJ Ŷ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ƐĞůĞĐƟŽŶ ƚśăƚ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐ Ă ǀ ĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨ ŐŝŌ cards from credit card vendors to retailers. They can be sent electronically or mailed directly to you! t ŚŽ ĚŽ / ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ĨŽƌ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ Žƌ ƚž discuss having my local business become an online vendor on the site? Can my business sign up for in-store purchases as well? ŵăŝů Ăůů ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ƚž info@philanthropyportal.com ZĞŵĞŵďĞƌ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ LJŽƵ ŝɛ Ă ŐŝŌ ƚž ƚśğ church. Every cent counts!

13 Benefits for our ministry The ability to bring additional revenue to your parish fundraising efforts, with a percentage of every qualified online purchase contributed to your parish (average is 2.8%) No upfront cost or on-going fees for your parish or your supporters Savings offers for our supporters from thousands of merchants like Target, Home Depot, Kohl s, Staples, Bass Pro Shops, and Best Buy Supporters can contribute to your parish automatically, and at no additional cost to them (and supporters do not pay higher prices at participating merchants) Proprietary and Confidential 4 Thank You To explore the program, please visit: antiochian.org/rewardsprogram Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Awards Program

14 Began Tuesday, November 15, This is a joyous fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. In the weeks between Nov. 15, and December 25, Orthodox Christians prepare themselves to celebrate the birth in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 2016 Christmas Order Form Commemorate your loved ones by Making a donnation in their honor! All submitted names will appear in the Christmas edition of the bulletin. Please note: this year s deadline is December 17. For the Health & Safety of: In Memory of: From: Submit this form with your payment either in the Sunday collection basket Or via mail to the church. Please make your checks payable to St. George Orthodox Church, With Christmas Offering in the memo. If you have any questions, please call the church office:

16 NINE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TITHE According to Hebrews 11:6, God says without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him. When you tithe to God, you are truly walking by faith and not by sight. Most of us normally don't have enough money to spare. So when we tithe, we're putting God to the test. We're saying, "Yes, Lord, I believe you are the God of your Word, and I am giving by faith". You have to use your faith to please God. As you step out in faith to give your tithes and offering, you are showing God that you believe him, and great shall be your reward eventually. Be faithful day in and day out, week in and week out, month in and month out, year in and year out, and you will see the windows of heaven shower blessings on you and your family that are so great, that there will eventually be an overflowing in your life. What is tithing? "Tithe" means 10% or "a tenth part". God's Word tells us that the first 10% of everything we earn or receive belongs to Him. God says in Malachi 3:8, if you don't give your tithes and offerings to Him, you are a thief. In verse 9, He says that we bring lots of problems on ourselves if we don't tithe. The only way God's work will be doing on this earth is if God's people give of their finances. Certainly, the world isn't going to finance the end time harvest. It's the responsibility of the church, or God's people. What's the difference between the "Tithe" and "Offerings"? The tithe is to be the first 10% of everything you receive financially. An offering is any amount you would give above the tithe. Well, I thought tithing was Old Testament Jewish Law that's not for today. No! According to Galatians 3:17, the Law came 430 years after God instituted the promise and tithing with Abraham. If tithing was under the Jewish Law, why did Abraham tithe 430 years before the Law was given? According to Genesis 14:20, Abraham tithed to the Priest Melchizedek from the very beginning, hundreds of years before the Law. I can't afford to tithe! If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you can't afford not to tithe! You need God's supernatural help if you're ever going to get out of debt. If you wait for your ship to come in before you tithe, you may be waiting a long time. Put your faith into action today by giving Him the first 10% of everything you earn or receive, and watch how He helps you get out of debt. I would also encourage you to teach your children to tithe to God from an early age, so they will be blessed all the days of their lives. NINE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TITHE 1. God commands it. In Malachi 3:10, God says, "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse ". The storehouse refers to the place where you worship. The tithe is to be given to your home church, the place where you are spiritually fed. When you give to support charities and other

17 ministries, you should be giving out of your offerings. The whole tithe belongs to the local church. 2. Tithing proves God's Word is true. God' says, if you will put Him to the test in tithes and offerings, eventually you will see great blessings overtake your life, even to the point that you will see God open the windows of blessing upon you and your family. 3. God will rebuke the devourer. According to Malachi 3:11, you have an enemy that will steal all your finances, but, when you bring God the whole tithe, and give offerings as He leads you, God will rebuke the enemy. When you become a follower of Jesus Christ, the enemy targets you and your finances. You need God's help if you're going to make it financially in today's world and the tough times that we live in. God actually challenges every believer to "put Him to the test" in their giving, and watch what He does in their lives. It's time to put God to the test, and watch God's blessings flow toward you. Do it today! 4. Tithing teaches me to put God first. According to Deuteronomy 14:23, the purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your life. If God has our finances, then we know He has our hearts. If we refuse to tithe, we prove that He really isn't first in the first place. 5. Jesus recognized tithing. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus recognized or commended the Pharisees for tithing. Tithing was the only thing they were doing right. 6. Tithing is essential to spiritual growth. God tells us in Luke 16:11, "if therefore you have not been faithful in the use of money, how can you expect Him to entrust greater riches to you?" Many Christians don't grow spiritually, and remain spiritual babies because they are not faithful to obey God in the tithes and offering. 7. Tithing proves you love the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 8:8, God says that your giving tests the sincerity of your love. You say you love the Lord, but you prove you love him when you give. Talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words. 8. Tithing is an investment for eternity. In Matthew 6:19, Jesus told us to "store up treasure in heaven." When you give your tithes and offerings to the Lord's work, you are investing your money in souls for the Kingdom, and helping to get people to heaven. 9. You cannot "out-give" God. In Galatians 6:7, God says, "do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows that he will also reap." God is watching, and whatever you give to Him, He will give back to you. Giving unlocks heaven's gates on your behalf. You cannot out-give God. The more you give to Him, the more He'll give back to you. Should one make a pledge as an individual or a couple? There is no hard and fast rule. Most married couples sign one pledge card. Some people feel strongly about making their own individual pledge. Each young person who works is invited to make his or her own pledge, even if he or she is living in the family home.

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19 For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48) Thank you to previous years wish list contributors List 8 Altar girls service robes $362 paid by Anonymous & $350 paid by Dr. Marwan Hilal Altar service Trip to Swings -N-Things $ 210 Paid by George Aboumrad Pan Orthodox Christmas Concert Reception $1500 paid by Ted Sahley The Elevator and The Outside Ramp Project $ We already received $53984 Paul Hanna George Haddad 150 Imad Nader 1200 Pierre Aboukaled 500 Dr. Salim Hayek 1000 Archdeacon Yarid 100 Dr. Adib Al Souss 1000 Dr. Marwan Hilal 1000 Ted Ziton 1000 Dr. Amir Alamir 2000 James Hussney 1000 George Dawed 200 Greg Caraboolad 150 Elias Karsheh 3000 Dr. George Hawwa 1000 Fadi Chaccour 250 Rami Karsheh 1000 Edward Caroll 30 Dr. Bachar Dergham 500 Dr. Wael Khoury 1000 St. George Fundraiser 9104 Sub. Sam Elias Hani Nader 3500 Jerry Koncz Two Cases of Orthodox Liturgical Wine for Holy Communion $120 each Six cases of Taper Candles $89 each Forty Altar Pure Liquid Paraffin Quarts $8.50 each Sell the rest of the memorial tiles at the entrance of the office area. $150 each Replace the Carpet at the Rectory Replace the Runner in the Church Replace The Metropolitan Hall Light Bulbs to LED Replace the Yarid Light Hall Bulbs to LED Replace the Aluminum Entry Door, back entrance to the Sunday school $4690 Move the Church Power Switch Box from the Cry Room to inside the Altar Thank you.

20 The Orthodox Advent Wreath 1st week FAITH (Green Candle or bow) Advent is beginning and one candle we light; The color is green and the flame is so bright. We think about faith in God's promise now done; He promised to send us his one and only son. (Isaiah 9:2,6-7; 40:3-5; 52:7) 4th week PEACE (White Candle or bow) Shortly before Jesus' blessed birth The Angels told shepherds, "Peace on Earth." Our white candle means peace, peace from on high, The peace that God gives; his peace will not die. (Luke 2:1-18) 2nd week HOPE (Blue Candle or bow) Advent continues with week number two; Our candle means hope and the color is blue: Hope in God's wisdom hope in God's love Hope that Christ will come, bringing joy from above. (Luke 1:5-31) 5th week REPENTANCE (Purple Candle or bow) The color is purple on this fifth of Advent; It is time to examine ourselves and repent: Repent of our sins that keep us away From God's message of love brought on Christmas Day. (Mark 1:1-8, 14-15) 3rd week LOVE (Gold or Yellow Candle or bow) Christmas is closer, the candles are three. Christ is coming and he sets us free: Freedom from sin free as a dove. First we had Faith, then Hope, now Love. (Luke 1:26-38) 6th week HOLY COMMUNION (Red Candle or bow) Christmas is near; the day is a soon one. Our candle is red and we ponder Communion. In Bethlehem God is with us; he is called Emanuel, And he's with us each Sunday in the chalice as well. (John 1:1-18, 6:52-58)