Light Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, Christ

Advent 1 Hope Habbakkuk 1:1-7, 2:1-4, 3:3-6; 3:17-19

How long shall I cry for help?

Hope is on the way. O Come Emmanuel

here is destruction and violence in the world, will justice ever prevail?

(Optional Hymns: Wait for the Lord Taize or O Come, O Come Emmanuel

https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel)

Look nations! Be astonished! Be astounded. Already work is being done that you would not believe if you were told! Have faith, have hope.

Have Faith, for faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of the things not seen.  Let us practice faith & hope together. 

Advent 2

How long shall I cry for help?

Peace is on the way. O Come Emmanuel

People are being tortured unjustly, is this the time for peace?

(Optional Hymns: Taize: My Peace I give you O Come O Come Emmanuel

https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom

O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.)

For such a time as this, salvation will come from one corner or another.

Come, Take heart, this is the time to be brave peace-creators, like Esther. Come, let us sow the seeds of peace.

 

Advent 3 Joy

How long shall I cry for help?

Joy is on the way. O Come Emmanuel

Can joy be heard? Where is one who will not break, one who cannot be crushed? 

(Optional Hymns:  Taize Laudate Dominum or O Come, O Come Emmanuel

https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom

O come, Thou DaySpring Come and Cheer
Our Spirits by Thine Advent here!
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night!
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel)

The Lord calls us into righteousness, God takes us by the hand, and keeps us.

God who gives breath to the people of earth, and the spirit to walk in it, forging covenants of peace that will be a light to the nations. 

 

Advent 4

How long shall I cry for help?

Love is on the way. O Come Emmanuel

Can Love be felt?

(Optional Hymns:  Taize Nothing Can Ever Come Between Us and The Love of God or O Come, O Come Emmanuel

https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom

O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel)

Fear not, for one shall conceive and bear son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, God with us.

God so loved the world he sent his only begotten son, Jesus, who came not to condemn the world, but to save us, Jesus will save his people from his sins. 

Christmas Candle

How long shall I cry for help?

Christ is on the way. O Come Emmanuel

Can Christ be here?

(Optional Hymns:  Taize Christe Luxe Mundi or O Come O Come Emmanuel or God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel)

Go, and know this will be a sign to you, for you will find a child lying in a manger.

And we will know good news of great joy for all people, for unto us is born to us is the Messiah, the Immanuel, the Wonderful Counselor, the Strength of God, The Eternal Protector, the Champion of Peace.

(Translation of Text from Illustrated Children’s Ministry)