These are a little different take than the traditional advent reading. If you are looking for something different this might be for you.
I send out a letter to the persons reading a week before they are to read. With copy in hand, they first read the Scripture, then light the candles as the interpretation is being read, then pray the prayer.
Usually families will split up the reading into different parts. It always turns out very well.
We number the candles beforehand with little stickers so that people will know what candles to light. Just place the stickers on the back of the candles where the lighters can see them but the congregation cannot. We always have two lighters available in case one fails.
I will be writing sermons to go along with the theme of each of the readings as the month of December progresses, if that is of any interest to you.
May the Lord Jesus bless you as you minister in His holy Name this Christmas season.
All Scriptures are from the NIV.
**Due to the death of my father I have had to fly home for the funeral and I will not be able to write a sermon to go with the first Sunday of advent.
First Sunday Of Advent - Hope of Jesus
Read Scripture:
Isaiah 9:2-4,6
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Light Candle while the interpretation is read
Light candle #1, only.
Interpretation
This morning we light the first candle, the candle of the hope that Jesus brings. The people of Israel had experienced years of oppression hoping to someday be free of their suffering. Jesus Christ is their hope realized. The hope of Israel and our hope today has always been an assured hope, for the earthly appearance of Jesus is not the result of a creation of a new being, for Jesus is. The pre-existent Christ was with humanity from the beginning and will be with us who love Him through eternity. Our hope is assured because the existence of the bearer of our hope was never in question. Jesus Christ is the one who was, who is, and who ever more shall be and therefore our Christian hope is secure, and always has been secure since even before the beginning of time.
Prayer
Lord God, let us never lose heart. From before time you have ordained all the days of our lives. You hold us in your presence in times of joy and in times of great suffering. We ask that by the power of your Holy Spirit you encourage us in steadfast reliance of our hope in you. Amen.
Second Sunday Of Advent - Dominion of Jesus
Read Scripture:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Is. 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.
Light Candles while the interpretation is read
Light candle #1 & #2 only.
Interpretation
This morning we light the second candle, the candle of the dominion that Jesus has over creation. Jesus Christ has preeminence over all persons, over all beings, over all concepts, over all time, over all of creation. Though it is not apparent to us in our day and time Jesus has full dominion over all events and all beings. The time will come when all conflict, suffering and oppression will be set aside by the power of Jesus Christ and every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ truly is Lord of all.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we acknowledge your dominion and sovereignty and we look forward to the day when we along with people of all time will bow before you in worship and be with you in glory and peace for all eternity. We ask, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that you drive out all fear from our faith and give us steadfast endurance to serve you even in the times of great suffering. Amen
Third Sunday Of Advent - Strength of Jesus
Read Scripture:
John 1:1-14
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
Light Candles while the interpretation is read
Light candle #1, #2 & 3 only.
Interpretation
This morning we light the third candle, the candle of the strength of Jesus. In the beginning the Word was spoken and creation came into being. Jesus is the Word. The Word was with God, and in fact, the Word is God. Jesus, the third person of the Trinity is our strength as Christians. Nothing, absolutely nothing came into being without Jesus, therefore nothing is stronger than Jesus. Whatever your burden is this morning, whatever it is that is holding you down – Jesus is stronger. Jesus is stronger than any event, any situation and any spirit that may come against us. We will prevail, not on our own strength, but with the strength of Jesus.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are our strength. Through you all things were made, there has been nothing made without you. We call on your holy name to abide with us, to protect us, to guide us and to give us the strength we need to overcome. We ask this in the name of Jesus, and know it will be done. Amen.
Fourth Sunday Of Advent - The Glory of Jesus
Read Scripture:
Scriptures Luke 2:8-19
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Light Candles while the interpretation is read
Light candle #1, #2, #3 and #4 only
Interpretation:
The angels announce the birth of Jesus and then cannot hold back any longer – they must give praise, honor and glory to God, so they burst out with an awesome spiritual experience that convinces the shepherds that they mean business. The shepherds clearly are overwhelmed by their angelic experience, yet they only experienced just a taste of the glory of Jesus Christ. One day, we will all stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and experience His full glory. Our response will be like that of the angels, we will fall down in worship acknowledging the glory of Jesus for what it is – Awesome.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, to you be the kingdom and the glory and the power forever. For you have created all things and through you all things have their being. We worship your holy name, the name that is the essence of glory. May your honor and glory increase, and your dominion be without end. Amen
Christmas Eve Advent Candle Lighting - The Love of Jesus
Read Scripture
1 Corinthians 13
1Cor. 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Light ALL the candles while the interpretation is read
Interpretation
This evening we light the fifth candle – the Christ candle. This is the candle of love, for Jesus Christ is love incarnate who humbled Himself to become human for our salvation. It is through the love of Jesus that we are made whole. Christ not only is the perfect example of love for us - Christ is the pure essence of love. The love of Jesus is not theoretical, hypothetical or even metaphorical, the love of Jesus Christ is tangible, here for us this very night. Jesus, He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails. May the love of Jesus Christ fill our homes on this hollowed Christmas eve.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit we ask that your mighty blessings fall upon all of us this Christmas eve. For each individual here tonight we ask that you make this Christmas be a Christmas of hope, a Christmas of faith and most of all a Christmas of love. We ask this all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
