The light of God through the birth of Christ!

Hello beloved Thirdway and anyone else choosing to share the advent ceremony with us!

Here is our literature for lighting the Christ candle tonight - it's the final candle we'll be lighting together in anticipation of tomorrow's miracle, the birth of Christ.  If you wanna get real wild, you could even wait until midnight to light it.  This time around, you'll need at least two readers for the liturgy, and then one for each candle, if you've got enough people. - 

I pray that God will bless you deeply as you go through the readings together.  May hope, peace and God's neverending goodness be stirred up in your hearts, pulling you into the mercy of tomorrow's lovely and generous gift.

The light of God is coming to you, through the birth of Christ.

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reader1

Justice is far from us, 

and righteousness does not reach us.

reader2

Do not be afraid.

r1

We look for light but all is darkness;

for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

r2

Do not be afraid, 

for unto us a child is born!

r1

Like the blind, we grope along the wall, 

feeling our way like men without eyes.

At midday, we stumble as if it were twilight;

we look for justice, but find none, 

for deliverance, but it is far away.

r2

Do not be afraid,

I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all people!

(sing together)

The light of God through the birth of Christ!

r1

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 

 r2

Lift up your eyes and look about you;

All assemble and come to you;

your sons come from afar, 

and your daughters are carried on the arm.

Indeed, you will look and be radiant,

your heart will throb and swell with joy.

r1

No longer will violence be heard in your land, 

nor ruin or destruction within your borders,

but you'll call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

The sun will no longer be your light by day,

nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, 

for the Lord will be your everlasting light,

and your God will be your glory.  

r2

Your sun will never set again,

and your moon will wane no more;

the Lord will be your everlasting light,

and your days of sorrow will end.

Then all your people will be righteous 

and they'll possess the land forever.

The least of you will become a thousand,

the smallest a mighty nation.

I am the Lord; in its time, I will do this swiftly.

r1

Do not be afraid.

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.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

r2

Do not be afraid,

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.

Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord.

Glory to God in the highest,

peace on earth, and goodwill to all men,

on whom God's favor rests!

The light of God through the birth of Christ!

The light of God through the birth of Christ!

The light of God through the birth of Christ!

(if you've got 5 candles, light each candle as you read.)

r1

It is because of the zeal of the Lord Almighty 

that all of these things will be accomplished!

We light the candle of hope, 

in faith that the birth of Christ is coming.

r2

We light the candle of peace, 

because wholeness and shalom will come with the birth of Christ.

r3

We light the candle of joy, 

because God has chosen to be near us

through the birth of Christ.

r4

We light the candle of love,

because God so loved the world that he gave his only son,

that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.

r5

We light the candle of Christ,

because the consolation and salvation of the world

have come through the birth of Christ.

All the earth is waiting!

And we too, wait expectantly for your kingdom, 

as it comes in fullness.

The light of God through the birth of Christ!

The light of God through the birth of Christ!

The light of God through the birth of Christ!

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Advent art by Rudy Arnold
Advent liturgy pulled from Isaiah 9, 59, 60, & Luke 2