Welcome and Intimations
Advent Candle Liturgy
- One:
- The Psalmist tells us to “make a joyful noise to the LORD, for the Lord is God who made us and whose we are, whose steadfast loves endures forever and faithfulness to all generations.”
- Two:
- Now we light the third candle, the candle of Joy, as we remember the angel’s words to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people.” We light it so that all who reap blue harvests from seeds of sadness may know the joy of Jesus Christ. We light it in honor of those who show us the joy of following Christ.
- One:
- Let us pray:
- All:
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God of Good News, as we await your coming we give you thanks for the joy we have in Christ Jesus. May all who seek such joy find it. For all who have ceased to believe in its possibility, may you work through us to show your joy already present. Come, God of Joy, come. Amen.
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CH4 273 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
(Verses 1, 2, 6)
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O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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O come, o come, thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
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Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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CH4 284 Hope Is a Candle
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Hope is a candle, once lit by the prophets,
never consumed, though it burns through the years;
dim in the daylight of power and privilege —
when they are gone, hope will shine on.
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Peace is a candle to show us a pathway,
threatened by gusts from our rage and our greed.
Friend, feel no envy for those in the shadows —
violence and force their dead-end course.
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Love is a candle whose light makes a circle,
where every face is the face of a friend.
Widen the circle by sharing and giving —
God’s holy dare: love everywhere.
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Joy is a candle of mystery and laughter,
mystery of light that is born in the dark;
laughter at hearing the voice of an angel,
ever so near, casting out fear.
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Christ is the light that the prophets awaited,
Christ is the lion, the lamb, and the child.
Christ is the love and the mystery and laughter —
candles, make way! Christ is the day.
1998 Selah Publishing Co., Inc.
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- Luke 1:46b-55
- James 5:7-10
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CH4 600 Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind
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You spoke to us - long, long ago -
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God's voice is heard.
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!
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Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour's love!
Scripture Union
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Message
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CH4 259 Beauty for Brokenness
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Beauty for brokenness,
hope for despair,
Lord, in Your suffering world
this is our prayer.
Bread for the children,
justice, joy, peace,
sunrise to sunset, Your kingdom increase!
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Shelter for fragile lives,
cures for their ills,
work for the craftsmen,
trade for their skills;
land for the dispossessed,
rights for the weak,
voices to plead the cause of those who can’t speak.
God of the poor,
friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray:
melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain;
come, change our love
from a spark to aflame.
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Refuge from cruel wars,
havens from fear,
cities for sanctuary,
freedoms to share.
Peace to the killing-fields,
scorched earth to green,
Christ for the bitterness, His cross for the pain.
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Rest for the ravaged earth,
oceans and streams
plundered and poisoned –
our future, our dreams.
Lord, end our madness,
carelessness, greed;
make us content with the things that we need.
God of the poor friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray:
melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain;
come, change our love
from a spark to aflame.
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Lighten our darkness,
breathe on this flame
until Your justice
burns brightly again;
until the nations
learn of Your ways,
seek Your salvation and bring You their praise.
God of the poor friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray:
melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain;
come, change our love
from a spark to aflame.
1993 Make Way Music
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Offering
Prayer of Intercession
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CH4 281 People, Look East
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People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
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Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
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Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.
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Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
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Blessing