Candle Lighting – katyandtheword

Advent Candles RCL Year B

Week 1

Mark 13:24-37
Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80
1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Hope
Our Hope lies in the Lord
The waiting seems long, but we wait together
God you shape us into your people
Prepare our hearts for Hope
Uncover hope, Holy Spirit
Stir the Hope in us Today

Hymn Suggestions: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Taize: Wait for the Lord (Taize could be done throughout the candle lighting liturgy)

Week 2:

Mark 1:1-8
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a

Love
We are preparing for the Love of the Lord
We are all baptized with the same water
God speaks tender words of love to us
Comfort, Comfort my people. The way will be made clear
Every mountain and hill be low, and even ground shall be made even, when all is eased and leveled, then the glory of God shall be revealed in love.
Uncover the love of God in us Today.

Hymn Suggestions: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Taize: Prepare the Way of the Lord, There is One Lord (Taize could be done throughout the candle lighting liturgy)

Week 3

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Joy
Let us shout with Joy about the coming of the Lord
Our God is the God of restoration
God promises to turn tears into joy, protect the weak, and overturn the structures of injustice
Preparing for Jesus, means preparing for power structures to be turned upside-down
Mary shouted with joy in the Magnificat, that true justice will come
Let joy unfold from God in us today.

Hymn Suggestions: Taize: in the Lord I’ll be ever Thankful, (Taize could be done throughout the candle lighting liturgy)

Week 4
Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]
Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14

Peace
Let us come together, for God is calling us towards peace
God promises us that Jesus will be named Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace
And even angels will sing of God’s peace
Let the Glory of Peace spill out Today.

Hymn Suggestions: Away in a Manger, Taize: Song of Simeon, Laudates Omnes Gentes (Peace on all the Earth)

For more ideas check out Advent Resources page

Advent Candles Narrative Lectionary Year 2

Promise of the Messiah
Hope
Jeremiah 33:[10-11], 14-18
Mark 8:27-29

Jesus there is hope in every promise of peace
Holy Spirit there is hope in every act of love
God there is hope in every shout of joy
Here, we light this candle, reaching for hope
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it
Plant the seeds of Jesse, to grow here today, we pray.

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymn Options: O Come, O Come Emmanuel or Rewritten Version, Taize : Nada the turbo, Wait for the Lord

Isaiah of the Exile
Love
Isaiah 40:1-11
Mark 1:1-4

Jesus, you clear to way for love
Holy Spirit, you make the path, even when the way seems rocky
I lift mine eyes to the hills, from where my help comes, my help comes from the Lord my God, who loves me as God’s own Beloved.
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it.
Come, let us Prepare the way of the Lord
Come, let us light the path together, with love.

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymns: Magnify the Lord (to the Tune of O Come All Ye Faithful), It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (an Advent Song In My Opinion), Taize Option: Bless the Lord or Magnificat

Rebuilding the Temple
Joy
Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10:13
Luke 2:25-32

Jesus, you will rebuild the world into your kindom
Holy Spirit, the waiting is hard
God cradle us in your arms, for we feel like we are not yet ready for the joy of Christmas.
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it.
God we long for your child of promise
We light the way, awaiting your joy to the world.

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymn Options : God the Weaver (to the Tune of Away in the the Manger), Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Zechariah’s Song
Peace
Luke 1:5-13 [14-25], 57-80
Psalm 113

Jesus there is the peace of quiet, and then there is the peace of dreams fulfilled
Holy Spirit, fill our souls with peace
God we long for the song Zechariah to make our hearts ready for Jesus
We hear the promise, and reach for it, even when we cannot believe it.
Fill us with what we need, so that we can be a people of peace
Let us light the candle, and prepare for the Prince of Peace

Taize Option (always fun to sing during the whole candle liturgy)

Hymn Options: God of Peace (to the Tune of Silent Night), Still Still Still, Taize Option: Laudate Dominum, Wait for 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)