Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Tonight, our nights grow shorter and our days grow long!
We look once more on these earthy symbols–firelight and evergreens–
and remember God’s promise to our world:
That our Light and our Hope, will come.

The Words of the Prophet

What came into existence was Life,
And the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
And the darkness could not put it out.

The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light, and we have beheld it’s glory, glory that only comes from God,
generous from the inside out,
true from start to finish, full of grace, full of truth.

A Prayer for the Candle Lighting Everyone who feels drawn to this prayer, please join with me:

God, rejoicing,
we remember your promises
To bring light into our darkness.

As the light from this candle brightens this space,
may the blessings of Christ Jesus come upon us,
brightening our way
and guiding us by his truth.

Soon and very soon, may Jesus bring life
into the darkness of our world,
and to us, as we wait for him.

Amen

Advent Hymn:
O come O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the son of God appears

Chorus: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee oh Israel

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.
Chorus:

O Come Thou Dayspring, from on high
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Chorus:

O come desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Chorus:

Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home:
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery.
Chorus:
Closing Prayer:

O Emmanuel, Jesus Christ,
Unknown desire of every nation,
Gift to all peoples,
come and dwell among us.
Amen