Today is Christmas Eve. On this day Christians light the fifth candle of the Advent wreath, the Christ candle. In today's post I'm going to put up a version of the Advent candle lighting ceremony we use in my church. The candles signify different dimensions of our Advent waiting. So far we've focused on waiting for our Good Shepherd (week 1), waiting for forgiveness (week 2), waiting with joy (week 3), and waiting for the son (week 4).
Note: Remember, I have written this so it would be accessible to children. Hence the simple language. This is just a guide. Use it as you wish, or let it inspire you to write your own. The whole guide, by the way, is available here.
The Lighting of the Fifth Candle: The Savior is Born!
[Re-light the three purple candles and the pink candle]
In the season of Advent we have used the Advent wreath and its candles to help us get ready for this great celebration of the birth of Christ. When we lit the first purple candle, we asked God to come and be our Good Shepherd. God our Shepherd has come in Jesus Christ! When we lit the second purple candle, we asked God to come and forgive our sins. God has come in Jesus Christ to take our sins and die upon the cross so that we might be forgiven! When we lit the third, pink candle, we felt joyful even in our longing for Christ to come. Christ, who has been born in a manger, will come again in glory to wipe away every tear from our eyes! When we lit the fourth candle, we remembered that Christ would come as a son -- the son of Mary, the Son of David, and the Son of God! This Son has been born! He is Immanuel -- God with us!
Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ, Jesus the Good Shepherd, Jesus who forgives our sins, Jesus who will come again, Jesus the son of Mary, the Son of David, and the very Son of God!
Prayer
Dear God, as we light the center candle today, may we celebrate with full joy the birth of your Son, Jesus the Christ. Amen!
Scripture Readings
Hear the Christmas story from 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 among those whom he favors!”
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.
Other Christmas reading might include: Micah 5:1-5; Psalm 145
Lighting the Candle[As someone lights the center, white candle, the following should be read or paraphrased. If you want to "light" the Advent wreath to the right, click on the wick of the white candle.] We light this candle with great joy and celebration, because Christ is born in Bethlehem. God's Son has come into the world to be our Savior! Prayer of HopeDear God, as we light this candle, we rejoice in the birth of your Son. May we worship him, welcome him, and make room for him in our hearts. O come, let us adore him! Amen! |  |
No comments:
Post a Comment