First Sunday of Advent – December 1, 2002

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday in which we recall the hope we have in Christ.

The prophets of Israel all spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a savior would be born, a king in the line of David.  They spoke of how He would rule the world wisely and bless all nations.

On Christmas day the Christ of our hope was born.  On Good Friday the Christ of our hope died.  On Easter day the Christ of our hope rose from the dead.  He then ascended into heaven.  On the last day, the Christ of our hope will come again to establish His kingdom over all things on earth.

As the followers of Christ, we await His return.  We light this candle to remember that as He came to us as humbly in the manger at Bethlehem and gave light to the world, so He is coming again in power to deliver His people.

We light this candle to remind us to be alert and to watch for His return.

(light the first candle)

Let us pray:  Loving God, we thank you for the hope you give us.  Help us prepare our hearts for the Lord’s coming.  Bless our worship.  Help us live holy and righteous lives.  We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent – December 8, 2002

Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath, the candle of hope.  We light it again as we remember that Christ will come again to fulfil all of God’s promises to us.

(light the candle that was lit last week)

The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace.  It is sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle to remind us of the place in which preparations were made to receive and cradle the Christ child.

Peace is a gift that we must be prepared for.  God gives us the gift of peace when we turn to Him in faith.

The prophet Isaiah calls Christ “the Prince of Peace.”  Through John the Baptist and all the other prophets, God asks us to prepare our hearts so that He may come in.

Our hope is in God, and in His Son Jesus Christ.  Our peace is found in Him.  We light this candle today to remind us that He brings peace to all who trust in Him.

(light the second candle)

Let us pray:  Loving God, thank you for the peace you give us through Jesus.  Help us prepare our hearts to receive Him.  Bless our worship.  Guide us in all that we say and do.  We ask it in the name of Christ Jesus, our Savior.  Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent – December 15, 2002

Last Sunday the candle of peace was lit.  We light it and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring to the world everlasting peace.

(light the candles that were lit last week and the week before)

The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy.  It reminds us of the joy that Mary felt when the angel Gabriel told her that a special child would be born to her, a child who would save and deliver His people.

God wants us all to have joy.  The angel who announced to the shepherds that Jesus had been born told them, “Do not be afraid.  I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people, for to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

We light this candle to remember that Christ brings the promise of a new life, a life in which the blind receive sight, the lame walk, and the prisoners are set free.  We light it to remember that He is the bringer of true and everlasting joy.

(light the third candle)

Let us pray:  Loving God, we thank you for the joy you bring us.  Help us prepare our hearts for this gift.  Bless our worship.  Help us to hear and to do your word.  We ask it in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Advent – December 22, 2002

Last Sunday we lit the candle of joy.  We light it and the candles of hope and peace again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring us everlasting peace and joy.

(light all three previous weeks’ candles)

The fourth candle of Advent is the Candle of Love.  Its light is meant to remind us of the love that God has for us.

Jesus shows us God’s perfect love.  He is God’s love in human form.  The Bible says that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Love is patient, love is kind and envies no one.  Love is never boastful or conceited, rude or selfish.  Love is not quick to take offense, it keeps no record of wrongs, it does not gloat over other people’s troubles, but rejoices in the right, the good, and the true.  There is nothing that love cannot face, there is no limit to its faith, to its hope, to its endurance.  Love never ends.

We light this candle today to remind us of how God’s perfect love is found in Jesus.

(light the fourth candle)

Let us pray:  Loving God, we thank you for your gift of love, shown to us perfectly in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Help us prepare our hearts to receive Him.  Bless our worship.  Help us to hear and do your word.  We ask it in the name of the child of Bethlehem.  May the Love of Christ rule in our hearts today.  Amen.