ADVENT READINGS BY DO NNA ROTHE NBE RGE R Please plan well in advance for this season of celebration. Choose readers and other participants early to allow time for rehearsals. Use a diverse group of persons from the congregation, including children of all ages, seniors, couples, single parents, or expectant mothers. Scripture citations should not be read aloud in these meditations. The Advent wreath is a popular symbol that represents the everlasting life found in Christ and the never-ending love that comes from God. It is a circular, evergreen wreath (real or BSUJmDJBM XJUImWFDBOEMFTGPVSBSPVOEUIFDJSDVNGFSFODFPGUIFXSFBUIBOEPOFJOUIF center of it. 5IFnBNFTPGUIFDBOEMFTQPJOUUPUIFDPNJOHPG+FTVTBTUIF-JHIUPGUIF8PSME)JTUPSJDBMMZ the primary sanctuary color of Advent is purple. Purple is the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. Pink is the color of roses and the color of celebration of the Christ child’s coming. We suggest three purple candles and one rose candle arranged around UIFXSFBUI5IFQVSQMFDBOEMFTBSFMJUPOUIFmSTUTFDPOEBOEGPVSUI4VOEBZTPG"EWFOU 5IFSPTFDBOEMFJTVTVBMMZMJUPOUIFUIJSE4VOEBZ5IFmGUIDBOEMFJTQMBDFEJOUIFDFOUFSPG the Advent wreath and is lit on Christmas Eve. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus. :PV NBZ QVSDIBTF B SFBEZNBEF XSFBUI XJUI DBOEMFT PS ZPV NBZ DIPPTF B nPSJTU PS designate someone in your congregation to create the Advent wreath. Use creativity to light the Advent candles in varying ways each week. Consider having a group of people walk from the back to the front of your sanctuary to light the candle on the Advent wreath. This is a great way to include families with children. "GUFSUIFmSTUXFFLMJHIUBMMQSFWJPVTMZMJUDBOEMFTCFGPSFUIFTFSWJDFCFHJOT-JHIUPOMZUIF current week’s candle during the service. Donna Rothenberger is the senior pastor at Whole Life Church in El Cajon, California. She is a popular speaker at conventions, conferences, and retreats. 13 A DVE N T RE A D I N G S NOVEMBER 30, WEEK 1: THE CANDLE OF HOPE Reader 1: Amidst the demands of the season: The shopping, the singing, Reader 2: WKHZUDSSLQJDQGWKHFRRNLHVWKHOLJKWLQJRIWKH$GYHQWFDQGOHLWVHOILVDQLPSRUWDQWV\PERO of the season: Reader 1: calling generation upon generation to tell of his mighty acts. Reader 2: 7KHƓUVWFDQGOHRIKRSHFDOOVRXWWRXVVD\LQJŏ+RSHRQZHDU\WUDYHOHU/LJKWRIWKH:RUOG break into the darkness and usher the explosion of life everlasting, hope eternal Reader 1: DQGMR\QHYHUHQGLQJŐ,WVŴLFNHULQJWRQJXHZKLVSHUVWKDWRXWVLGHRIKRSHWKHUHLVGDUNQHVV IHDUKRSHOHVVQHVVDQGWKHVKDGRZVRIVLQ Reader 2: )RUWKHSHRSOHJURSHGLQWKHGDUNQHVVZLWKRXWDOLJKW Reader 1: %XWLQVSLWHRISRZHUKXQJU\NLQJVVHOIFHQWHUHGSURSKHWVDQGDSDWK\E\KDOIKHDUWHGUHOLJLRXV leaders, Reader 2: WKHUHDURVHDORQJLQJIRU*RGWRUDLVHXSDQHZNLQJZKRFRXOGVKRZWKHPKRZWREH*RGōV people. Reader 1: A return of God’s dynamic presence in their midst. Reader 2: 7KHDQWLFLSDWLRQRIDQ$QRLQWHG2QHZHDYLQJLWVJROGHQWKUHDGWKURXJKWKHKLVWRU\RIROG Reader 1: ,QGHQLDOPHQVD\WKHGDUNQHVVLVWKHOLJKW%XWř Reader 2: řDQGWKHUHLVDOZD\VDEXWř+HXQFRYHUVGHHSWKLQJVRXWRIGDUNQHVVDQGEULQJVWKHVKDGRZ of death into the light. Reader 1: )RU<RXZLOOOLJKWP\FDQGOHWKH/RUGP\*RGZLOOHQOLJKWHQP\GDUNQHVV Reader 2: $QG,ZLOOEULQJWKHEOLQGE\DZD\WKDWWKH\NQHZQRW,ZLOOOHDGWKHPLQSDWKVWKDWWKH\ KDYHQRWNQRZQ,ZLOOPDNHGDUNQHVVOLJKWEHIRUHWKHPDQGFURRNHGWKLQJVVWUDLJKW7KHVH WKLQJVZLOO,GRXQWRWKHPDQGQRWIRUVDNHWKHP Reader 1: 7KHUHIRUHWKH/RUG+LPVHOIVKDOOJLYH\RXWKHVLJQRI+RSH%HKROGDYLUJLQVKDOOFRQFHLYHDQG EHDUD6RQDQGVKDOOFDOO+LVQDPH,PPDQXHO Prayer: :HWKDQN<RX*RGIRUOLJKWLQJXSWKHGDUNQHVVIRUXVWKURXJKWKHELUWKRI<RXU6RQWKH+RO\ 2QHWKH/LJKW%HDUHUDQG%ULQJHURI+RSH Suggested Carol: “O Come O Come Emmanuel” 14 ADVE N T RE A D I N G S DECEMBER 7, WEEK 2: THE CANDLE OF PEACE Reader 1: 7KHVHFRQGFDQGOHLVWKHFDQGOHRISHDFH-XVWWKHPHQWLRQRIWKHZRUGVOLSVDVLOHQFHRYHURXU VSLULWVORZVRXUSXOVHDQGUHOD[HVRXUVKRXOGHUV3HDFH Reader 2: (YHU\RQHZDQWVLW1DWLRQVJRWRZDURYHULW+RXVHKROGVFUXPEOHIRUODFNRILW Reader 1: 7KHJRRGQHZVLV*RGZDQWVXVWRKDYHLW,QIDFW+HVHQW-HVXVH[SUHVVO\IRUWKDWSXUSRVH Reader 2: But for many it is anything but a peaceful season. Reader 1: 6RPHRQHVDLGSHDFHLVOLWHUDOO\KDUPRQ\LQDOOWKHSDUWV$VLILQDJUHHPHQWWKH3VDOPLVWZURWH “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Reader 2: &KULVWZDVERUQWREHWKHFHQWHURIRXUZRUOGLQVWHDGRIWKHWUDSSLQJVRIRXUZRUOG2QO\LQ WKHPDQJHU3HDFH1RWDVWKHZRUOGJLYHVQRWHYHQDNLQGZHPLJKWWKLQNZHōUHORRNLQJIRU EXWDXWKHQWLFIXOƓOOPHQWLQWKH%DE\LQWKHPDQJHU Reader 1: living, loving, harmony in all the parts. Reader 1: Me, you, the nations, the family next door. Reader 2: $QG+HZLOONHHSKLPLQSHUIHFWSHDFHZKRVHPLQGLVVWD\HGRQřWKHEDE\ Reader 1: +HZLOOHVWDEOLVKSHDFHIRUXVIRU+HKDVDOVRGRQHDOORXUZRUNVLQXV Reader 2: 7KHQMXVWLFHZLOOGZHOOLQWKHZLOGHUQHVV Reader 1: DQGULJKWHRXVQHVVUHPDLQLQWKHIUXLWIXOƓHOG$QG+LVSHRSOHZLOOGZHOOLQDSHDFHIXOKDELWDWLRQ ,QVHFXUHGZHOOLQJVDQGLQTXLHWUHVWLQJSODFHV Reader 2: &KULVWPDV-XVWWKHZRUGVSHDNVVHFXUHGZHOOLQJVDQGTXLHWUHVWLQJSODFHV Prayer: 'HDU3ULQFHRI3HDFHZHWKDQN<RXWKDW<RXUZRUGVHWWOHVRXUVSLULW:HIRFXVRQ<RX(VWDEOLVK <RXUSHDFHIXOGZHOOLQJLQXV Suggested Carol: “Silent Night” 15 A DV E N T RE A D I N G S DECEMBER 14, WEEK 3: THE CANDLE OF JOY 5HDGHU 7KH3VDOPLVWZURWHŏ%OHVVHGDUHWKHSHRSOHZKRNQRZWKHMR\IXOVRXQG7KH\ZDON2/RUGLQ WKHOLJKWRI<RXUFRXQWHQDQFHŐ,QRWKHUZRUGVQRERG\NQRZVDJRRGWLPHOLNHWKHSHRSOHRI*RG 5HDGHU :HPDNHPHUU\E\PDNLQJMR\ƓOOHGVKRXWVWRWKH/RUG Reader 1: Singing to the Lord, 5HDGHU %HLQJLQ+LVSUHVHQFH 5HDGHU EULQJLQJWKHVDFULƓFHRISUDLVH 5HDGHU %XWZLWKRXWWKH-HVXVVWRU\KDUSVFHDVHDQGLQVWHDGRIMR\DQGJODGQHVVHDWLQJDQGGULQNLQJ become priority saying: 5HDGHU ŏ/HWXVHDWDQGGULQNIRUWRPRUURZZHGLHŐ 5HDGHU %XWWKHPHVVDJHRIWKH&KULVWFKLOGVD\Vŏ1RZZLWKMR\ZHGUDZZDWHUIURPWKHZHOOVRI salvation.” Reader 2: The humble increase their joy in the Lord, 5HDGHU DQGWKHSRRUUHMRLFH,QWKH+RO\2QH 5HDGHU 7KHZDVWHODQGLVQRZRXUKDSS\SODFHDQGWKHGHVHUWUHMRLFHVDQGEORVVRPVDVWKHURVH 5HDGHU )RUZHKDYHUHMRLFHGWRVHHWKHJRRGQHVVRIWKH/RUGLQWKHODQGRIWKHOLYLQJ 5HDGHU $QGZHVHHWKHJORU\RIWKH/RUGWKHH[FHOOHQF\RIRXU*RG Reader 1, 2: Sing, O heavens! Reader 2: Be joyful, O earth! Reader 1: Break out in singing, O mountains! 5HDGHU )RUWKH/RUGKDVFRPIRUWHG+LVSHRSOH$QG+LVSHRSOHFRPHEHIRUH+LPZLWKHYHUODVWLQJMR\ on their heads. Reader 1: They shall obtain joy and gladness, 5HDGHU DQGDOOVRUURZDQGVLJKLQJ 5HDGHU VKDOOŴHHDZD\IRUHYHU 3UD\HU *RGZHWKDQN<RXIRUWKHVSLULWRIMR\WKDWEHFRPHVRXUVZKHQWKH&KULVWFKLOGWDNHV+LVSODFH in the manger of our hearts. Suggested Carol: “Joy To The World” 16 ADVE N T RE A D I N G S DECEMBER 21, WEEK 4: THE CANDLE OF LOVE Reader 1: 7KHZRUGFDQEHRYHUXVHGPLVXQGHUVWRRGPLVGHƓQHG Reader 2: 0DQ\KDYHZDUUHGDEXVHGDQGGHVWUR\HGLQLWVQDPH Reader 1: ,QWKH:DOPDUWDLVOHVDUHƓOOHGZLWKSHRSOHEX\LQJLW Reader 2: &OLQLFVDUHRYHUŴRZLQJZLWKSHRSOHVXIIHULQJIURPLW Reader 1: And it is the very stumbling block the builders rejected. Reader 2: The fourth candle is the candle of love. Reader 1: It represents the love of God for us that he has shared in the person of his Son, demonstrated WRXVWKURXJKVXSHUQDWXUDOELUWKDQGVDFULƓFLDOGHDWK Reader 2: 7KLVORYHZDONVWKHVWUHHWVGHFODULQJWKDWLWVIXOOQHVVKDVFRPHLQWKHKXPEOHELUWKRIDFKLOG Reader 1: 7KHFKLOG-HVXVKDVFRPHVD\LQJŏ<HV,KDYHORYHG\RXZLWKDQHYHUODVWLQJORYHWKHUHIRUH ZLWKORYLQJNLQGQHVV,KDYHGUDZQ\RXŐ Reader 1: 7KHJUHDWHVWRIDOOLVORYH7RGD\ZHDUHUHPLQGHGWKDWWKLVEDE\LQWKHPDQJHU Reader 2: WKHZD\WKHWUXWKDQGWKHOLIH Reader 1: this Jesus, loves us. Reader 2: +HHQWHUHGWKHSRUWDOVRIHDUWKVRZHFRXOGHQWHUWKHJDWHVRIKHDYHQ Reader 1: +HZDVERUQDPDQWKDWZHPLJKWEHERUQDJDLQ Reader 2: $QGVRLWZDVWKDWZKLOH0DU\DQG-RVHSKZHUHWKHUHWKHGD\VZHUHFRPSOHWHG Reader 1: /RYHZDVERUQ Reader 1: $QGVKHEURXJKWIRUWKKHUƓUVWERUQ6RQDQGZUDSSHG+LP/RYHLQVZDGGOLQJDQGODLG+LPLQ a manger, Reader 2: because an inn is too small for a love so great. Reader 1: ,QWKLVZDVPDQLIHVWHGWKHORYHRI*RGWRZDUGXVEHFDXVH*RGVHQW+LVRQO\EHJRWWHQ6RQLQWR WKHZRUOGWKDWZHPLJKWOLYHWKURXJK+LP Reader 2: So beloved, let us love one another: Reader 1, 2: for love is of God Prayer: )DWKHURI/RYHZHNQHHOEHIRUH\RXWRGD\KXPEOHGWKDW\RXZRXOGORYHXVVRPXFKWKDW\RX ZRXOGDOORZ<RXUORYHWREHGHPRQVWUDWHGDV\RXUVRQERUQLQRXUZRUOGWRGLHLQRXUSODFH Suggested Carol: “+DUN7KH+HUDOG$QJHOV6LQJŐ 17 A DV E N T RE A D I N G S DECEMBER 24, CHRISTMAS EVE: THE CANDLE OF CHRIST 18 5HDGHU 7KHSHRSOHZDONLQJLQGDUNQHVVř 5HDGHU 7KDWōV\RXPHXQDEOHWRƓQGRXUZD\RXWRIWKHVLQVKDPHEURNHQQHVVKHDUWDFKHDQGVWUXJJOHVř 5HDGHU KDYHVHHQDJUHDWOLJKWř 5HDGHU řDODPSEHIRUHRXUIHHWDQGDOLJKWWRRXUSDWK 5HDGHU řRQWKRVHOLYLQJLQWKHODQGRIGHHSGDUNQHVV Reader 2: You have enlarged the nation and increased our joy; 5HDGHU DQGZHUHMRLFHEHIRUH<RXDVSHRSOHUHMRLFHDWWKHKDUYHVW 5HDGHU <RXJLYHMR\ZLWKKHOSLQWKHQLFNRIWLPH Reader 2: pardon before the execution, $OO ZDWHURQWKHIRUW\ƓUVWGD\ 5HDGHU :HUHMRLFHDVZDUULRUVGLYLGLQJWKHSOXQGHU Reader 2: There is more than enough to go around! Reader 3: You have shattered the yoke that burdens us. 5HDGHU (YHU\ZDUULRUōVERRWXVHGLQEDWWOH 5HDGHU DQGHYHU\JDUPHQWUROOHGLQEORRGZLOOEHGHVWLQHGIRUEXUQLQJ $OO ZLOOEHIXHOIRUWKHƓUH 5HDGHU 7KHFKLOGUHQZLOOFRPHKRPH Reader 3: dreams come true, Reader 1: For to us a child has been born. 5HDGHU +RSHKDVDUULYHGDQGIROORZLQJLQLWVIRRWVWHSV Reader 3: peace Reader 1: joy Reader 2: and love. 5HDGHU $QGWKHJRYHUQPHQWZLOOEHRQKLVVKRXOGHUV Reader 1: And he is called Wonderful Counselor Reader 2: Mighty God Reader 1, 2: Everlasting Father All: Prince of Peace 5HDGHU $QGRIWKHJUHDWQHVVRIKLVJRYHUQPHQWDQGSHDFHWKHUHZLOOEHQRHQG Reader 2: Rejoice, and again I say rejoice for the Savior has come! 3UD\HU -HVXV/RUGDQG6DYLRUZHFHOHEUDWH\RXUUXOHDV.LQJDQGSDVVLRQDVWKHORYHURIRXUVRXOV Let it be on earth, our temporary home, through us, as it is in heaven, our eternal home. Suggested Carol: ŏ$QJHOV:H+DYH+HDUG2Q+LJKŐ
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