Tag: Advent Candles

Narrative Lectionary Advent Candle Liturgy

Week 1 (Hope)   Jeremiah 33:14- 18,

Who are you awaiting, my friends?

We are awaiting the Lord, God’s best, to come

The time is surely coming, when Christ will be with us.

Our hope is in the Lord our God, Eternal Protector, the Might of Peace. Let us wait in Hope

Sing: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, Thou, Dayspring from on high
And cause Thy light on us to rise
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadow put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

Or Magnify the Lord v1. to the tune of O Come All Ye Faithful

The time is surely coming                                                                                                        Refuge and Salvation                                                                                                                     The Jesse, the Jesse branch will spring up from David.                                                     Justice and Righteousness,                                                                                                           Will be the spice of worship

We hope for God’s justice; We hope for God’s justice; We hope for God’s justice; Magnify the Lord

 

 

Day 2 (Love) Isaiah 40: 1-1

Who are you awaiting beloved?

We are waiting for the Messiah, the embodiment of Love.

The time is surely coming, when Christ will be with us.

When God appears, we will no longer be lonely or alone, we will know we are loved. We wait in the midst of love.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

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

Or Magnify the Lord v2. to the tune of O Come All Ye Faithful

Comfort, O my people                                                                                                                    with songs and preparation                                                                                                             A voice, a voice cries out in wil-il-der-ness                                                                                Cry Out and Stand Firm                                                                                                             God’s Word never withers

We wait as God’s beloved; We wait as God’s beloved; We wait as God’s beloved; Magnify the Lord

Day 3 (Joy) Isaiah 40: 1-1

Who are you anticipating?

We are waiting for Jesus, in whom our joy grows.

The time is surely coming, when Christ will be with us.

When God appears, we will be comforted, able at last to put down our sorrows. We will say: this is the day that Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  How can we not wait for that kind of joy?

Sing: O Come O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, true prophet of the Lord
And turn the key to heaven’s door
Be Thou our comforter and guide
And lead us to the Father’s side
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall by His word our darkness dispel

Or Magnify the Lord v 3. to the tune of O Come All Ye Faithful

Rebuild the Temple                                                                                                                        Built with ex-alt-ta-tions                                                                                                                 For God, is good an’ just, an’ loves us forev’r                                                                         Shout with Rejoicing                                                                                                                   Come let’s praise our Savior

We practice our rejoicing; We practice our rejoicing; We practice our rejoicing; Magnify the Lord

 

Day 4 (Peace) Luke 1:5-13 [14-25], 27-80,

Who are you awaiting in such stillness?

We are being still, to know God. 

The time is surely coming, when Christ will be with us.

When God appears, war will be but a memory, the lion will lie down with the lamb, and everyone will be made whole, so we wait for Shalom.

Sing: O Come O Come Emmanuel

O Come, Thou King of nations bring
An end to all our suffering
Bid every pain and sorrow cease
And reign now as our Prince of Peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come again with us to dwell

Or Magnify the Lord v 4. to the tune of O Come All Ye Faithful

Peace Seed, we await thee                                                                                                        Mighty and Graceful                                                                                                              Deliver, deliver us; Jesus, Messiah                                                                                                      Come strengthen justice                                                                                                                Fill the world with mercy

Create the earth’s-Shalom; Create the earth’s-Shalom; Create the earth’s-Shalom; Magnify the Lord

Advent Hymns

  1.  https://wp.me/p2rhxZ-2hf,

2. https://wp.me/p2rhxZ-2hg,

3. https://wp.me/p2rhxZ-2mJ

Magnify the Lord to the carol O Come All Ye Faithful

Pairs with Narrative Lectionary Year 2 and Advent Candles

As Always, you can email me for a doc version as the formatting can get weird online katyandtheword at gmail

Magnify the Lord: Words by Pastor Katy Stenta

(Hope)  Jeremiah 33:14- 18,

The time is surely coming Refuge and Salvation

The Jesse, the Jesse branch will spring up from David

Justice and Righteousness

Will be the spice of worship

We hope for God’s Justice (x3) Magnify the Lord

(Love) Isaiah 40: 1-11

Comfort, O my people

with songs and preparation

A voice, a voice cries out in wil-il-der-ness

Cry Out and Stand Firm

God’s Word never withers

We wait as God’s beloved (3x); Magnify the Lord

(Joy) Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13

Rebuild the Temple

Built with ex-alt-ta-tions

For God, is good an’ just, an’ loves us forev’r

Shout with Rejoicing           

Come let’s praise our Savior

We practice our rejoicing (3x); Magnify the Lord

(Peace) Luke 1:5-13 [14-25], 27-80,

Peace Seed, we await thee

Mighty and Graceful  

Deliver, deliver us; Jesus, Messiah

Come strengthen justice       

Fill the world with mercy

Create the earth’s-Shalom (x3); Magnify the Lord

Narrative Lectionary Advent Candles

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)

advent-wreath-main-340x340

Prayer Links for Advent Narrative Lectionary Dec. 10th

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Dec 10th 2017 Prayer Resource Created by Mike Williams

Feel free to use/edit. Credit to the original author (i.e. based on prayer written by XXX) appreciated.

Call to Worship:
Leader: The frenzied pace of the holiday season and a frantic news cycle can leave us dry and brittle.
People: And yet, the hand of the Lord still comes upon us.
Leader: We find ourselves in the valley wondering whether life is possible.
People: And yet, the Spirit sets us down where we need to be.
Leader: We come together today seeking to hear the Word of the Lord.
People: Come, Lord God, speak to us. Breathe upon us, that we may live.
Call to Confession:
The Lord has spoken to us through prophets and through God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. Despite this, we often feel lost and completely cut off. Confession is an opportunity to take an honest look at ourselves and to ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon us once more. Please join me as we pray together the prayer of confession…
Prayer of Confession:
O Lord, our God, you have called us to be your people and to stand on your Word. Even though you have granted us hope, breath, and life itself, we confess that we have allowed the noise, violence, and injustice of this world to dry up our faith. Sin leads us to graves of our own making. Speak to us once more, O God. Bring us back. Help us to live. Cause us once more to know that your Son, Jesus Christ, is our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Mortals, the good news of our faith is this, Jesus has opened up the grave and brought us back to the land of the living. We have been forgiven. The Holy Spirit is at work within us. We shall live as God’s own people. Know that the Lord has spoken and acted on our behalf. Through Christ we can be at peace. Amen.
Passing of the Peace:
In his vision, Ezekiel saw the life-giving power of God’s Spirit at work. That same Holy Spirit is present with us in worship today. Let us share the peace that we have received through the passing of the peace.
Lighting of the Advent Candle:
Reader 1: Our world is often frightening and overwhelming. Peace seems absent from the headlines. Such situations are nothing new. Ezekiel lived in a time of exile. His vision of a valley of dry bones reminds us that people have always dealt with violence and injustice. Peace was in as short supply then as it is today. Fortunately, God did not allow the story to end there. Ezekiel was called to prophesy a message of restoration, life, and peace.
Reader 2: During Advent we prepare to receive the one who was able to overcome death and offer us everlasting peace. Today we light the candle of peace. We remember that Jesus was called the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. In John 14:27 he offered that peace to his disciples, and to all of us, when he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”
Reader 1: We light this candle as a sign of the peace of Christ given to us. (light the candle)
Reader 2: May we always remember this peace and allow it to sustain us throughout this Advent season. Let us pray…
People: Almighty God, we seek to love you and live in the Spirit of truth. Often, however, we find ourselves overcome by the world. In this moment we ask you to reveal yourself to us once more. Help us to remember the peace that your Son offers. Prepare us once more to receive him throughout this Advent season. Amen.

Prayer Links for Advent Narrative Lectionary Dec. 3rd

Prayer Resource for Narrative Lectionary in Advent, written by diverse pastors

images

A broad number of prayers from a variety of pastors/denominations. All variations of theology and kinds of prayers were accepted to show the vast richness of God’s work.
 These prayers are meant for personal spiritual practice or for congregations who follow the narrative lectionary.

Feel free to use/edit. Credit to the original author (i.e. based on prayer written by XXX) appreciated.

Dec 3rd 2017 Prayer Resource Created by Rev. Johanna  Rehbaum 

Daniel 3:1, 8-30 and John 18:36-37

CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the Lord;
 he inclined to me and heard my cry. 
He put a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord. 
Happy are those who make the Lord their trust,
   who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. 

  

PRAYER AND CONFESSION

We wait in hope for a God who enters the fiery furnace of the unstable places of our world, who enters the world’s darkness, who enters into our sin. Let us prepare to meet God, but entering into a time of prayer and confession…

 

Silence for reflection: when has your trust in God faltered this week? When have you put your trust in false promises?

 

God of the Fiery Furnace, Have mercy on us. We confess that when our feet are to the flames of life’s demands, our response is too often to turn our attention away from you and away from our neighbor. We put our trust in other gods, other idols, that offer false promises of relief. We seek consolation from quick fixes, and not from a relationship with you. Forgive us, God, for the times we have turned inward instead of toward you, and help us to trust in you and walk in your will and ways.

 

Assurance of Pardon:

Comfort, O comfort my people,

says your God. God is with us in the fiery furnaces of life.

In ☩ Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven

and all things are made new.

Amen.

 

LIGHTING OF THE WREATH

Despite the shadows of this world, we dare to hope. As we light this candle, we gave thanks to God that even when we are overcome with sin and doubt, God’s light promises to scatter the darkness.

 

Light Advent wreath.

 

Let us pray… Come, Lord Jesus,

Come and upset our carefully guarded routine, our carefully ordered structure.

Come crashing in
, making yourself heard in the cacophony.

Come tiptoeing in
, making us sit up and take notice.

Surprise us with all the ways you are present for us.

Bring calm and reassurance
 that your love never falters
 and that your spirit never leaves us.

Come, Lord Jesus,
 be known in our imperfect lives today and by your presence, cleanse and renew us
 with your unpredictable spirit today.
 Amen.

(adapted from Spill the Beans)

 

OPENING SONG: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

 

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 you, O Israel.

 

O come, O Branch of Jesse, free

Your own from Satan’s tyranny;

From depths of hell your people save,

And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to you, O Israel.

 

O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer;

O Sun of justice, now draw near

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to you, O Israel.

 

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of fiery flames,

Even the most raging fire could not destroy your servants when they called upon you in faith. Give us faith to withstand anything that rages to deter us from following you.

Amen

(by Kimberly Leetch)