Topic: Christmas Advent Service Example 4 Of 6 (Used In United Methodist Churches)

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Isaiah 2:1-5
1. The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2. In the days to come the mountain of the Lord?s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
3. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

O God, this year we have known terror, and we have known war. So many have died, and so many more have lost friends and family. It has been a difficult and terrible time for us.

We thank you for your promise of a time when swords will be exchanged for shovels and when tanks will be replaced by tractors.

We look forward to the promised day when nations will live together in peace; and when we learn, not about war, but about you and one another.

(Light the first candle.)

Lord, may the light of this first candle shine bright and clear, reminding us of your promise of peace on earth.

SONG: "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,"
Stanza 4

For lo! The days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old, When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, And the whole world send back the song which soon the angels sing.

(ALL): Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

We light the first candle, reminding us of God?s promise of peace on earth.

Psalm 72:1-7
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king?s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

O God, we remember that you sent Jesus, not to the rich and the powerful, but to the poor and those in need.

We remember that Jesus healed the sick, comforted those who mourn, and went out of his way to love even little children.

(Light the second candle.)

Lord, may the light of this second candle, as it dispels the darkness around it, help to remind us that we are to dispel the darkness of sickness, poverty, injustice, and suffering all around us.

Song: "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,"
Stanza 3

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
Look now! For glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.

(All): Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

(Light the first candle.)

We light the first candle, reminding us of God?s promise of peace on earth.

(Light the second candle.)

We light the second candle, reminding us that we are to dispel the darkness of sickness, poverty, injustice, and suffering all around us.

James 5:7-10
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
O God, you command us to be patient in our waiting for Jesus? coming. As the farmer prepares the field and waits for the harvest in patience, may we also prepare our lives and wait for your coming in patience.

(Light the third candle.)

Lord, may the constant light of this candle serve as an example of the kind of constant patience we are to have in our living and in our relationships with one another.

As we rush about with shopping, parties, cooking, decorating, and the busyness of these days, may we not forget the true reason why we do these things; and may we not grumble against one another.

Our hearts are strong, Lord, for your coming is near.

Song: "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,"
Stanza 2

Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

(All): Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

(Light the first candle.)
We light the first candle, reminding us of God's promise of peace on earth.

(Light the second candle.)
We light the second candle, reminding us that we are to dispel the darkness of sickness, poverty, injustice, and suffering all around us.

(Light the third candle.)
We light the third candle, reminding us to be constant and patient in our relationships and in our living.

Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.
But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,
But had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

O God, we can only admire the righteousness and trust of Joseph, who -- in the face of public scorn and humiliation -- took upon himself the responsibility of caring for Mary and her unborn child, and who was faithful to your call.

(Light the fourth candle.)
Lord, may the light of this candle illumine our path through life, so that our way is the way of righteousness, trust, and faithfulness.

Song: "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear,"
Stanza 1

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.

(All): Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

CHRISTMAS EVE ADVENT LIGHTING

(Light the first candle.)
We light the first candle, reminding us of God?s promise of peace on earth.

(Light the second candle.)
We light the second candle, reminding us that we are to dispel the darkness of sickness, poverty, injustice, and suffering all around us.

(Light the third candle.)
We light the third candle, reminding us to be constant and patient in our relationships and in our living.

(Light the fourth candle.)
We light the fourth candle, reminding us that the way of following Jesus is the way of righteousness, trust, and faithfulness.

Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.
This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
All went to their own towns to be registered.
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.
He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, good will among people."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

O God, we have watched for your coming with longing and with expectation, with patience and with hope.

Now, as the prophets promised so long ago, you have come to us once again; and with the shepherds, we are filled with wonder and amazement.

(Light the white Christ candle.)
Lord, you come as a tiny, fragile baby; yet we know that you are God and you are with us. May the flame of this candle remind us that you are the light of the world and that if we follow you, we will never walk in darkness, but will have the true light of life.

Song: "O Little Town of Bethlehem,"
Stanza 4
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

(All): Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Article Source: Http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item/_id=3715

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