Plain Print: Leader
Bold Print: Congregation
The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.
O send out your light and your truth; let
them lead me.
Why are you cast down, and why are you anxious?
I will hope in God; for I shall again praise
him, my help and my God.
Although Christmas is supposed to be a season
of love and joy, so often our world is violent
and scary. We continue to hear stories of
wars overseas and violence close to home.
Disagreements with loved ones boil over into
shouting matches or seething silence. We
have little patience for the person holding
up the check-out line, or the tired children
we've been dragging about. As we struggle
to find our way in the darkness we lose hope.
But God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to light
the way for us. Through his teaching and
through his miracles he showed us how God
loves us and how we are to love each other.
And through his death and resurrection Jesus
offers forgiveness and the freedom to love
as God loves.
(Light the first and second purple candles)
The first candle of Advent is the candle
of Love. The Second candle of Advent is the
candle of Hope. We light this candle because
Jesus shines the light of hope into our lives
with the promise that God is making all things
new.
Loving God, we praise you, for through your
Son Jesus Christ you are making all things
new. As we worship you this morning draw
us out of the darkness we find in the world.
Through music and prayers and the promises
in your word fill us with the light of your
presence. Empower us to carry that light
back out into the world and share our hope
with others. AMEN.