Candle Lighting Liturgies based on A Season of Hope. First Sunday of Advent Leader: Today we mark the beginning of the Advent season, entering into a season of Hope. In celebration we light the candles of the advent wreath, one each time we gather for worship. Every week, we add to those lit the week before, and as the light grows brighter, our hope draws nearer. Congregation: This year each candle will represent our hope in the Christ child. As we reflect on the ways and the whys of our hope, instill in us, Lord, a joy that knows no bounds. Leader: On this first Sunday, we reflect on the reasonableness of hope. We long for the coming savior, and we need the hope he brings Congregation: God, meet us in the midst of our hoping. Give us the assurance that what you have promised us will come to pass. Forgive us for those times when we are tempted to despair, and light the fire of your hope in our hearts once more! Leader: Every promise God has made is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In him, our hope is sure! (2 Corinthians 1:20) Hymn: We Lift the Light of Hope, verse 1 1 1 In regards to using the Hymn, We Lift the Light of Hope Churches with a blanket license from CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc.) may copy these hymns for noncommercial congregational use. For information on CCLI, call 1-800-234-2446.
Second Sunday of Advent Leader: Today we continue our journey towards hope, steadily moving closer to birth of the Christ child, the source of our hope and the subject of our deep longings. Congregation: The first candle represented the reasonableness of our hope, and the second candle represents the source of our hope: a God who loves us. Leader: God loved us enough to send his one and only son, born to us, the Savior of the world! Congregation: Jesus, your advent exceeded all we could have dreamed of more than a political hero or a military conqueror, you came to defeat death itself and show us a new and better way to live. Leader: Help us, God, to live into your coming Kingdom, in all its beauty and majesty. As we look toward another advent, may your rule take hold in our hearts today. Hymn: We Lift the Light of Hope, verses 1-2
Third Sunday of Advent Leader: Today we light the third candle along with the others we have lit in weeks now past. From the reasonableness of hope, to the reason for our hope, we come now to the realm in which we hope the realm of God s Kingdom come to us in Christ. Congregation: More than an earthly kingdom, or something we bring to pass through our own striving, this Kingdom of God was ushered in through humility. We lay down our own pride and bow our knee. Leader: This Kingdom of God is breaking into our darkness, the light of hope dispelling our fear. We trust in something more than what our eyes can see, in that which faith holds dear. Congregation: God, your Kingdom is here and yet is still coming. We join with you as bearing of the light of hope and life. In Jesus we have joy that carries through each day, unshackled from the guilt of sin. Leader: The angels came with the announcement of good news of great joy for all people. (Luke 2:10) Today we live as people of joy, as people who have met this coming King! Hymn: We Lift the Light of Hope, verses 1-3
Fourth Sunday of Advent Leader: As we light the fourth candle we recall our journey of hope thus far. We ve visited the need for our hope and the reason we have for hope, as well as the Kingdom in which our hope gives us new citizenship. Now we see the depth of our hope in the eternal love of God for his people. Congregation: Our hope remains throughout each trial because our hope rests in a love that lasts forever. We know what love is because God has loved us, sending his son to live among us. Leader: This love compels a response. We have seen the hope of our salvation in the child of Bethlehem. Congregation: God, we respond to your invitation. God, we open our hearts to your gift of grace. Make us new and fill us with the hope that rests in your love that lasts forever and ever. Leader: Lord, receive our praise today. Hear our hearts and we sing of our love for you. Hymn: We Lift the Light of Hope, verses 1-4
Christmas Eve Leader: Our journey of hope has brought us here. A season of hope culminates with the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Tonight we light the Christ candle. Congregation: Jesus Christ is our hope. God has kept his promise. The promise of a Savior is fulfilled this night! Leader: Because Christ has come, we can live beyond mere circumstance. Now we live into the truth that the Light of the World has come. By this light we see the way. Congregation: God, in Jesus we see the Word made flesh. In knowing Jesus, we find our rest. We set our burdens aside and kneel at his manger bed. Leader: Born to us and the whole world is the Child of Hope. In Jesus we have peace, joy, and love God s gift to us for all eternity. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 nd Corinthians 9:15) Hymn: We Lift the Light of Hope, verses 1-5