Advent Candle liturgies for Year A

Week 1: Hope

Song Leader:  Why did he come?
ALL:     He came down that we may find hope (3x)
             Hallelujah forever more.

Reading

With one voice the people called out, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.”[1]
Then through the prophets God sent hope:
By Jeremiah -  “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” [2]
By Isaiah – “He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. “[3]
By Ezekiel-” I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them, he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” [4] 

The first candle is lit

One:  With hope we wait for the coming shepherd.
ALL:  The one who is and has been our shepherd, and who is coming still.



Week 2:  Love

Song Leader:  Why did he come?
ALL:     He came down that we may have love (3x)
            Hallelujah forever more.

Reading

To a young woman God’s message came.  She would bear the son to save the world.  And she sang, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." [5]

The second candle is lit

One:  With love we watch Christ coming, son and friend, shepherd and lamb.
ALL: With love we anticipate the one whose love saves us.



Week 3: Joy

Song Leader:  Why did he come?

ALL:     He came down that we may have joy (3x)
            Hallelujah forever more.

Reading

Whenever people have recognized God’s powerful love, joy erupts.

The Psalmist sings, “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’

The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.

May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.

Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.  [6]


The third candle is lit


One: With joy we remember God’s powerful love.

ALL: And celebrate Jesus Christ’s joyful embodiment of love.

 


Week 4:  Peace

 

Song Leader:  Why did he come?

ALL:     He came down that we may have peace (3x)
            Hallelujah forever more.

Reading

From ancient days God has called leaders to shepherd the people;
Cyrus, who was called “ my shepherd, to carry out all my purpose”;[7]
David, who was called  from tending the nursing ewes and brought him to be the shepherd of his people.[8] And the coming shepherd king of whom Micah declared “and he shall be the one of peace. [9]

The fourth candle is lit

One: Lord, Shepherd your people with your staff,
                  the flock that belongs to you[10]
ALL: Shepherd us with your strong peace and purpose.


[1] Psalm 80: 1


[2] Jeremiah 3:15


[3] Isaiah 40:11


[4] Ezekiel 34: 23


[5] Luke 1:46b-55


[6] Psalm 126: 2-6


[7] Isaiah 44:28


[8] Psalm 78:71


[9] Micah 5:5


[10] Micah 7:14