Lighting of the Advent Candles

These readings may be done by one person
or divided among several.

by Ken Bible

*Indicates songs with familiar tunes
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First Sunday of Advent

Today we begin our celebration of Advent.
On these four Sundays leading up to Christmas,
we will rejoice in the great gift that is ours in Jesus Christ.

To help us celebrate,
we will be lighting the candles of the Advent wreath.
The candles signify that Jesus is the Light of the World.
The evergreens remind us that He is life and brings life to us.
All these are arranged in a circle because life in Christ has no end.

Each Sunday we will light an additional candle.
Then on Christmas Eve, we will light all the candles,
including the center one, the Christ candle.
As we do, we will rejoice that Christ has come to us.
He is Immanuel…God with us.

On this first Sunday of Advent,
we light the candle of hope.

Hope is our assurance that God will finish all He has started.
Hope is our confidence that He will do all He has promised.

All the promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
He is our hope, today and forever! (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Hymn: *We Lift the Light of Hope, v. 1 or *Peace, Peace, Peace, v. 2

Second Sunday of Advent

On this second Sunday of Advent,
as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ,
we light the candle of peace.

Jesus Christ is our peace. (Ephesians 2:14)
He is the Prince of Peace,
and the fruit of His presence is peace. (Isaiah 9:6; Galatians 5:22)

Christ comes to bring justice, wholeness, and harmony
to every relationship throughout all creation.
He wants to continually grant us peace in every situation. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Jesus, we pray,
guide our feet into the path of peace. (Luke 1:79)

Hymn: *We Lift the Light of Hope, v. 2 or *Peace, Peace, Peace, v. 1

Third Sunday of Advent

On this third Sunday of Advent,
as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ,
we light the candle of joy.

When Christ comes into our lives,
He brings the fullness of joy.
He anoints our hearts with the oil of gladness. (Isaiah 61:3)

When Jesus was born,
the angels said that His coming was
good news of great joy for all people. (Luke 2:10)

Because Christ has come to us,
we can live every day in the joy of the Lord.
Praise to His name!

Hymn: *We Lift the Light of Hope, v. 3 or *Peace, Peace, Peace, v. 4

Fourth Sunday of Advent

On this fourth Sunday of Advent,
as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ,
we light the candle of love.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us! (1 John 3:1)

This is how God showed His love:
He sent His one and only Son into the world
that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)

A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

Hymn: *We Lift the Light of Hope, v. 4 or *Peace, Peace, Peace, v. 3

Christmas Eve

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus
and rejoice in His coming to us,
we light the Christ candle.

Jesus Christ is our hope.
He is our peace.

Jesus Christ is our joy.
He is love--
pure, holy, undying love.

Whoever believes in Him will never perish
but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Hymn: *We Lift the Light of Hope, v. 5 or *Peace, Peace, Peace, all vv.