Home Catechism Reflections/2000 RCIA Church Doctrine Church Documents Mysticism Chat Prayer Prayer Requests Discussion Saints Social Doctrine Bible (NAB) Links  |
The circle of the wreath symbolizes that God has no beginning and no end.The greenery symbolizes Christ's eternal presence to us. The candles represent the light of Christ
VOICE - Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means "coming" and in this season we prepare for the coming of Christ. One of the ways we prepare for his coming is by making an Advent wreath and lighting its candles to remind us of the gifts Christ brings to the world. VOICE - The Advent wreath includes many symbols to help us think about Christ and his gifts. The wreath itself is in the shape of a circle. A circle has no beginning and no end. This reminds us that there is no beginning and no end to God and that God's love and caring are forever. VOICE - The light from the candles - which grows stronger each Sunday in Advent, reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world. VOICE - Today we light the candle of hope. The people of Israel hoped in God's promises and were not disappointed. Again and again God delivered Israel from its enemies. We too have the same experience of salvation. That is why we believe in God's promise to send Jesus to us once again to judge the world and establish his kingdom forever upon the earth. (a person lights the candle) VOICE - Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ. VOICE - Let us pray: Thank you God for the hope you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your hope with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen. (here an appropriate song or hymn may be sung) VOICE - Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath, the candle of hope. We light it again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to fulfil all of God's promises to us. (a person lights the candle of hope) VOICE - The second candle of Advent is the Candle of Peace. Peace is a word that we hear a lot. It is one of the things that we hope for. Christ brought peace when he first came to us and he will bring everlasting peace when he comes again. VOICE - The prophet Isaiah called Christ "the Prince of Peace". When Jesus came he taught people the importance of being peace makers. He said that those who make peace shall be called the children of God. VOICE - We light the candle of peace to remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and that through him peace is found. (a person lights the candle of peace) VOICE - Peace is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the peace we find in Jesus Christ. VOICE - Let us pray: Thank you God for the peace you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your peace with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen. (here an appropriate song or hymn may be sung) VOICE - Last Sunday we lit the candle of peace. We light it and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to judge the world and bring it everlasting peace. (a person lights the candles of hope, and peace.) VOICE - The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that a special child would be born to her she was filled with joy. She sang a song that began with the words: "My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. VOICE - Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so his presence in the world gave joy to those who had none before. He healed them and gave them hope and peace when they believed in him. From hope, peace, and love grows joy. VOICE - We light the candle of joy to remind us that when Jesus is born in us we have joy and that through him there will be everlasting joy on earth. (a person lights the candle of joy) VOICE - Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus Christ. VOICE - Let us pray: Thank you God for the joy you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your joy with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen. (here an appropriate song or hymn may be sung) VOICE - Last Sunday we lit the candle of joy. We light it and the candles of hope and peace again as we remember that Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, will come again to fulfil all of God's promises and bring us everlasting peace and joy. (a person lights the candles of hope, peace, and joy) VOICE - The fourth candle of Advent is the Candle of Love. God's love is a perfect love. It holds nothing back. God, in love, gives us everything we need to live a life of hope and peace. VOICE - 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." Jesus shows us God's perfect love. VOICE - This is what love is like: 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 records 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. VOICE - Love never ends. We light the candle of love to remind us that Jesus brings us God's love and shows us how to love others. (a person lights the candle of love) VOICE - Love is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the love we find in Jesus Christ. VOICE - Let us pray: Thank you God for the love you give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us today, and everyday to worship you, to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your love with each other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem. Amen. (here an appropriate song or hymn may be sung) * Processional Carol: O Come All Ye Faithful (VU 60 1-3) Words of Welcome & Lighting of the Candles: L: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. P: And also with you. L: Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, the son of God is born this night. P: God's word has been made flesh among us. L: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. P: Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness - on them a light has shined. L: You, O Lord, have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. P: His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. L: He is also called Emmanuel, for in him God is with us. Unison Prayer L: Let us Pray... P: Eternal God, this holy night is radiant with the brilliance of your one true light. May that light illuminate our hearts and shine in our words and deeds. May the hope, the peace, the joy, and the love represented by the birth in Bethlehem this night fill our lives and become part of all that we say and do. May we share the divine life of your son Jesus Christ, even as he humbled himself to share our humanity. Amen. * Carol: It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (VU 44 1-2) O WISDOM, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: COME, and teach us the way of prudence. Amen O LORD AND RULER of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: COME, and redeem us with outstretched arms. Amen. O ROOT OF JESSE, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: COME, to deliver us, and tarry not. Amen. O KEY OF DAVID, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: COME, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen. O DAWN OF THE EAST, brightness of light eternal, and Son of Justice: COME, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen. O KING OF THE GENTILES and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: COME, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth. Amen. O EMMANUEL, God with us, Our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Saviour: COME to save us, O Lord our God. Amen Advent Wreath Prayers and O'Antiphons �copyright 1997, 2000 Rev. Richard J. Fairchild http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/c-advn-candles.html used with kind permission 
|
Gift Ideas  |