Advent Wreath Liturgies (2013) Year A

First Sunday of Advent (December 1, 2013)

Keep awake! Be watchful!

The Son of Man is coming with great power and glory.

He shall judge the nations;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

We light the first Advent candle reminding us that God’s promised Messiah

will break into our time and space

to teach us his ways

that we may walk in his paths of righteousness and peace.

May we stay alert for his coming.

Light the candle

Come, Lord Jesus.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent (December 8, 2013)

In those days a fiery preacher from the desert came to tell the people:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

He is the one the prophet Isaiah spoke about when he said:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.”

We light the second Advent candle in preparation for the coming of the Messiah,

in anticipation of the fullness of God’s justice and righteousness,

and remembering the call of John the Baptist

to make paths straight,

repent of our sin,

and live holy lives devoted to God.

Light the candle

Come, Lord Jesus.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent (December 15, 2013)

Good news, God is filling the hungry with good things!

Good news, God is lifting up the lowly!

Good news, God is about do his mightiest work!

He will cause righteousness and praise

to spring forth from all nations.

We light the third Advent candle

remembering that God’s Promised One

comes to comfort all who are afflicted

and to afflict all who might be too comfortable.

Light the candle

Come, Lord Jesus.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 22, 2013)

Do not be afraid, salvation is at hand.

God is about to do a mighty thing.

Joseph’s dream of God’s promise

will soon be our reality.

God’s promised Messiah will be none other than Emmanuel,

God with us.

We light the fourth Advent candle

in hope of the coming of Emmanuel,

God in the flesh.

God’s healing of human brokenness

comes by way of God taking on human flesh.

Light the candle

Come, Lord Jesus.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen.

Christmas Eve or Day

Good news! Good news!

Our hopes and fears and all of years

have met in this place tonight.

And we have beheld the glory of the coming of God’s Messiah.

Sing for joy! Salvation has come!

Light the Christ Candle

We light the Christ candle as a sign to the world

that today, in the City of David, a Savior is born,

who is Christ the Lord.

We no longer have to fear the darkness

for our Light has come.

Glory to God in the highest heaven!

And on earth, peace to all of God’s children!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Amen.

The Rev. Ben Gosden is a provisional member of the South Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He currently serves as Associate Pastor of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, Macon, Georgia.