Advent Candle Lighting Ceremony

I have created an Advent Candle Lighting Ceremony for church or personal use.

*** NEW THIS YEAR – YOU CAN DOWNLOD YOUR COPY RIGHT HERE:

https://app.box.com/s/ie7fllgeakmtm384b2je

Here is a sample of the first week:

Week 1  – candle of Expectation, Hope or Prophecy
Scripture:
As we light the first Advent candle, we are reminded that Jesus is “the Light of the World.”  We read in John 8:12 … “Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Responsive Reading (focus is on “hope”):

P:  Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. – Psalm 31:24
C:  We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. – Psalm 33:20

P:  The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him; – Lamentations 3:25a
C:  Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. – Romans 5:5

P: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
C:  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised, is faithful. – Hebrews 10:23

P and C: May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you. – Psalm 33:22

Prayer:  Lord, renew a sense of hope in our hearts this morning/afternoon/evening.  Let your Word and your promises remind us of  the hope that our prayers will be answered, that doors of opportunity that seem closed will be opened, that broken relationships will be mended, that diseased bodies will be healed and that damaged trust will be restored.  We pray this in eager expectation of our coming Savior; Jesus Christ.  Amen.

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