A Christmas Prayer for 2014

God of Hope,

where despair rages, where things seem lost, you make us a promise.

When we are tempted to give up, when we decide the world is falling apart, you hold up a vision of what could be.

Into the world as it is, with all the drama and the hurt and the pain, you insert a bit of hope,

you show us a glimpse of the Kingdom of God,

you remind us that things are not always going to be as bad as they seem.

This Christmas season, re-make us into people of hope, make us those who have hope for a better world even against all the evidence.

Help us carry hope for the present and the future into a world where despair and resignation seem to be winning. And so we remember those places in our lives and around the world where hope is most needed

...time of silence...

God of Peace,

we live in a world where peace is so seldom a reality.

Our news sources share stories of bombs around the world, of people shot by those called to serve and protect, of people shooting those called to serve and protect, of militants killing all who get in their way, of schoolgirls kidnapped and presumed to be sold off in marriage against their will.

Where does peace fit in?

Tonight we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, tonight we hear again the angel song “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all of goodwill”.

As we celebrate, may we be so filled with Christ's Peace that we carry it with us wherever we go, bringing peace in our own way to the world that we touch.

And so we pray that Peace would be more than just a word, we pray for those places where it's reality is most urgently needed

...time of silence...

God of Joy,

in churches and houses and village squares around the globe tonight the sounds of joy ring out.

And also in churches and houses and village squares around the globe tonight there are those whose hearts are heavy or whose life is a struggle that leaves little room for joy.

Tonight as we sing the carols and hear the old story, we hold in our hearts those who are lonely this night, and those who have an empty space at the table, and those who lie in hospital beds or sit beside those beds, and those who struggle to find basics like food and shelter.

Sometimes life is not what we want it to be.

On this night, on every night, we pray with and for all those who struggle

may they know that they are not alone, may they hear the word of promise and joy and love

...time of silence...

God of Love,

love, they say, is what makes the world go round

love is the power that makes life possible.

In love you continue to break into our lives, to break into our world.

You remind us that we are loved, you call us to be people who love others.

This Christmas season, and throughout the year that is to come, fill our hearts to overflowing with love.

And may we, having experienced Your boundless, unlimited, passionate love, pass it on to all we meet.

May love become the watchword and guidepost of our lives and the lives of all Your children.

And in this season of love, we pause to remember all our loved ones

...time of silence...

God of Light,

in the beginning there was darkness. And you called forth the light.

Throughout recorded time there has been darkness, and you called out the light.

In our world today there is darkness, help us to find the light.

The Christmas story reminds us of your love and care for your created, how you will never abandon us to the dark.

In the face of the darkness help us choose to be people of the light.

As we stand in the glow of starlight and angel song and a babe with his mother may we always remember that though the light shines in the darkness the darkness has not, will not, and can not over come it.

For the shadowed places of the world that that cry for light we pray

...time of silence...

God of Birth,

tonight we gather to celebrate a birth that happened long ago,

the birth of a child laid in a manger because there was no place for his family in the inn.

But tonight we also celebrate births that happen everyday:

we sing praises for hope born anew in the midst of despair,

we watch as peace is born in the middle of violence and struggle and disparity,

we listen as joy is born afresh in the broken-hearted,

we are overcome with emotion as love is born time and time again, overcoming fear and distrust and hatred,

we stand in the glow as tiny sparks give birth to a light that warms and illuminates the wonders of life.

For all the births we celebrate this night we offer prayers of thanksgiving and praise

...time of silence...

Amen.

He Said, She Said

A 2-voice Sermon for December 21, 2014 – Advent 4

I was excited. And a little nervous. But I was going to be married. And that is a big deal for any one. And then the world changed. And I mean changed.

There I was, minding my own business, tending to my daily chores, when suddenly there was this ...being... standing in front of me. I mean it obviously wasn't a human. But it spoke. It told me I was favoured, that God was with me. I have to admit that I was less than coherent as I replied. I mean I had no idea what was going on and it is pretty terrifying to have a being (maybe an angel???) appear and start talking to you – no matter how friendly it sounds or how nice the words.

I guess the angel, at least I am sure now it was an angel, could tell I was afraid. Because the next thing it said was “Don't be Afraid”. So I started to breathe a little bit easier. After all, who doesn't like to be told that they are in God's good books? But the angel didn't stop there. It went on to say I was going to have a baby. I think I fainted for a moment...

I had waited a long time. I wanted to be sure I could support a family before getting married. And then I was ready. So I spoke to Mary's father and we made the arrangement. Everything was going smoothly, or at least as smoothly as thing go under Roman oppression, and then...well something happened...I still don't know how best to talk about it...

After I woke up again I asked the angel to say that again. “You are going to have a baby” it said and then went on about who this baby would be. I am not sure I fully understood it all. I was still trying to work out the first part of the news.

Finally I worked up the nerve to speak. I pointed out that this couldn't possibly be right. I wasn't married yet. It was too soon for me to be pregnant. There must be some sort of mistake. I thought maybe the angel would realize this and go away. But nope. Instead it gave me a story about how God's Spirit would come upon me and then I would be pregnant with God's child. Then it repeated something about the Son –I was going to have a Son– being an heir to the throne of David.

I was still a little doubtful, so then the angel told me that my cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant, and we had all assumed she would NEVER have a baby. The next thing I knew I was agreeing and the angel left. It was only then that I began to REALLY worry. How would I tell my parents? How would we tell Joseph? What would happen to me? I knew what could happen to girls who got pregnant too soon...

So here I am, working away on my projects, and preparing for our marriage, when Mary's father appears at my door. He had a strange look on his face. He said he had something to tell me. But then he couldn't say anything, he just stood there looking, well, ashamed is the best way I could describe it. And Mary came in. She didn't say anything at first, just looked at me. Then, in a voice so quiet I could hardly hear her, she told me she was going to have a baby. Then she just stood there, waiting...

I didn't know what to say. What could I say? I mean really what were my options?

After a long moment of silence I found my voice. I couldn't respond right then, but I knew I needed to respond soon. I asked if I could have a week to think about it. Mary's father agreed and they left.

Now what was I going to do? I knew my rights under the Law. I knew what the village people would say behind my back. Mind you they would say those things no matter what I did.

Everything I had ever learned told me that the right thing to do was to call the marriage off. But could I do that to Mary?

Now I had seven days to make up my mind...

I was so scared. Joseph looked so hurt, so confused, so angry. I don't know what I expected. I just know I was afraid of what he would say. Would he yell? Would he cry? Would he take me to the center of town and publicly shame me? Would he have me stoned?

But he didn't do any of those things. He just stood there, staring at me, then looking at the floor. He asked for 2 days to decide what he would do and we left. And now I wait.

There are days when I wonder why I agreed to this madness. Why didn't I just say thanks but no thanks when the angel came. But then again did I really have a choice? And I was so certain it was the right thing to do. I could just feel that this was what God wanted for me. But if Joseph doesn't feel that too? Then what? I mean I still am sure this is meant to be. I just know that I can't raise a child, even if it is God's child, by myself. How long can a week feel like?

So by the end of the 6^th day I had finally made up my mind. I did not want to hurt Mary. I had become quite fond of her after all. But everything I had ever been taught told me that I couldn't take Mary as my wife. Despite what she said, it was obvious that she had been with some other man. I mean she was pregnant! And there is really only one way for that to happen. Right? Even if it wasn't her fault, even if she had no choice I just couldn't marry her. Could I?

But really I didn't want to hurt her or cause her shame. So I decided that I would be as subtle as possible. I wouldn't denounce her in public. I wouldn't haul her out to the center of town for judgement. I would just quietly go to her father and call the wedding off. No harm done. Having made my decision I was finally able to sleep.

And what a sleep that was....

I guess it was a dream. Or at least it must have been a dream. And yet it felt very , REAL, more real than a dream usually does. In it I was visited by... someone... maybe an angel, a messenger from God. Can that be possible? Me? Getting a message from God? Apparently so.

Anyway the angel told me that Mary had been right. She was carrying God's child. And it was alright for me to marry her. There would be no shame, no dishonour in doing that. This was the child we had been waiting for for so long. This was the one who had been promised, the one people would call Emmanuel, God-with-Us, the one who would save us.

When I woke up I lay there for a long time, trying to understand. Then it all sank in. I WOULD marry Mary. We WOULD have a son. And God is at work in all of this. It all seems so odd. But now it is time. The week is over...

Here he comes. It has been such a long week. What will he say? What will he do?

Hello Joseph.

Hello Mary. I have made my decision.

You have? And that is...

We will be married. I understand now. God sent me a message. I understand all of it. Well maybe not all of it, but enough. I believe you.

O Joseph I am so happy. God promised that things would work out. God said this was the plan. Right now I need to go visit my cousin Elizabeth. But then I will come back and we will be married. And we will have a SON.

Yes Mary, and when he is born we will name him...

(Together) Jesus.

Opening Prayer for January 4

God of light, in this season of Light,

we gather together to celebrate the birth of the Light of the World.

God of light, we are drawn to your Light,

and yet wherever there is light there is shadow.

God of the nations, God of residents and aliens and refuges,

in this time of worship remind us that sometimes our stories are far more complicated than we remember.

And as we live in the complications,

allow us to see how you are present, both in the times of glory, and in the times of terror, when the outcome is in doubt.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the child just born, forced to flee to a strange land, who will one day teach his friends to pray saying...

Opening Prayer for Christmas Eve

In the beginning God said “let there be light”

God, we give thanks for light

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

God, we who have had times of darkness come in search of the light.

In the beginning was the Word...and in the Word was life and light for all people.

God, we are drawn to the light of life.

And though the light shines in the darkness,

the darkness cannot overcome it.

God of star light and angel song.

As we sing and listen and watch this night, may the Light that shines from the manger fill our hearts.

And when we leave this worship space,

may that light shine through us at Christmas and all year round. Amen.

Blue Christmas 2014 Reflections

To go with this service

The Cloud of Despair, The Candle of Hope:

My God My God, why have you forsaken me. Is there any better cry of despair? The early church put these words of despair on the lips of Jesus as they told the story of the crucifixion. Despair is real. It is part of being human. It may have various shades and intensities but we all feel despair at some time in our life.

Despair can suck the life out of us. If we sink too deep despair can convince us that there is no point trying. It disguises itself as “realism”. It tells us that the realistic viewpoint is that things won't get better. If we aren't careful despair can convince us that even God has left us, that we are indeed forsaken.

But the Gospel message counters the world's despair with God's hope. The Good News of faith reminds us that we are not alone. Those verses from Paul's letter to the Roman church are some of the best words to counter despair. They don't promise that life will be perfect. But they do promise that no matter what happens God will be with us. We will not be forsaken. And in that lies our hope.

Centuries ago, Dame Julian of Norwich shared these words that echo through time: “All will be well, all will be well, all manner of thing be well”. Julian knew that life was not even close to perfect. She knew that life was often disastrous – because she had seen many disasters. But she knew that God was there and that in the long term God's love and will would prevail. She had hope.

And now, remembering the hope shared by Paul and by Julian, we light this candle of hope, that it may shine brightly in our lives when the cloud of despair threatens to overtake us...

The Haze of Busy-ness, The Candle of Peace:

It sneaks up on us sometimes. Without thinking much about it we agree to one thing and then another, all of which are good in and of them selves. And suddenly we find that we don't have enough time to do everything we have agreed to AND all the things we want to do for ourselves AND all the things we want to do with our family. And maybe we start to feel that we are just going through the motions, just doing things to get them done, but not really enjoying them or no longer sure they are worthwhile.

And sometimes we do it on purpose. Sometimes being busy seems better than the alternative. Maybe time that isn't filled with “stuff” leaves us with time to think or feel things that are uncomfortable. Maybe being busy allows us to cope – at least for a little while.

But being that busy can't last. Our energy just can't sustain it for too long. And so eventually our bodies and souls make us stop. Then what. Are we left resentful of the things we missed out on? Are we left exhausted, not ready to deal with those things we were trying to avoid? Now what do we do?

The Psalmist gives us an answer. “Be still, and know that I am God!”. We counter the busy-ness of life (whatever the source of the busy-ness) by letting go and letting God. The peace we crave lies in trusting God, in adding stillness into our lives, and so leaving space for God to calm our souls and nerves.

As we search for peace, as we try to peer through the haze of busy-ness, we light this candle. May it's light shine through the haze, clearing our vision, acting as a beacon drawing us towards the peace of God...

The Gloom of Sorrow, The Candle of Joy:

It is a part of everybody's life at one time or another. Sorrow. Sometimes just for a moment or two, sometimes it forms a tub around us and we sit and soak, sometimes it feels like a morass from which we cannot escape, but in every life are periods of sorrow.

But to feel sorrow when we are expected to be happy is hard. When the world is in “Joy to the World” mode and joy feels far from our hearts we can feel out of step. And even if there sorrow is mixed with moments of joy there is still the shadow, the darkness that takes the brightness away. And we might wonder if this is alright.

But here is the thing. Christmas comes into the world just as it is. The Christ-child is born into a world just as it is. Not a perfect world. The birth of Christ did not suddenly make everything perfect. Jesus lives and works in a world where people are in pain and speaks to the power of God to transform the world, to bring healing to the pain. In Luke's Gospel Jesus begins his ministry with these words from Isaiah. Jesus comes to bring release to those held captive, Jesus comes to bring a garland instead of ashes, Jesus comes to bring comfort to those who mourn. Jesus comes to awaken joy in hearts made heavy with sorrow.

And so, as we await the birth of the Christ-child, as we wait for the year of God's favour, we light this candle of Joy. We trust that it will shine in the gloom of our sorrow, reminding us that joy and sorrow are both a part of our lives in the past, the present, and the future...

The Shadow of Fear, The Candle of Love:

What is the opposite of love? Is it hate? Is it anger? Is it indifference? I don't think so, Hate is not the opposite of love, it is more the shadow-side of love, love misdirected. Anger is sometimes spurred by love, it is sometimes a tool of love (and sometimes a tool of love's shadow). Indifference may be the lack of love but still is not quite its opposite. So what IS the opposite of love?

I think a therapist of mine several years ago was right. The opposite of love is fear. As evidence, I point out that scripture tells us that perfect love casts out all fear.

There are lots of things that breed fear in our lives. Grief. Uncertainty. Change. Anything that feels like a threat. And fear is a normal part of life, fear is something that can protect us, or at least spur us to take action to protect ourselves. But it can get in the way of life. If it gets too powerful fear can stop us from taking risks, from embracing the possibilities of life.

One of the most common instructions we find in Scripture is some variation of “Don't Be Afraid”. In these words from Isaiah we are told not to be afraid because God is with us, because God will strengthen and sustain us. In times of change and uncertainty, in the depths of grief, when we are sure we will be overwhelmed God is there to keep us from being washed away. The God who has loved us since before our birth keeps the water and the fire from destroying us.

And so we light this candle to drive away the shadow of fear, leaving room for the strength and power of love to fill our hearts and souls.

For December 21, 2014 -- Advent 4

CALL TO WORSHIP

As people of love, we gather for worship.

We continue to walk the road to Bethlehem and a baby in a manger

Here we learn about Joseph and Mary, and the surprise God had for them.

Here we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, God's love put into flesh.

As we gather to celebrate we share the love of God with friend and stranger as we exchange words and signs of God's peace...

OPENING PRAYER

God of love,

the world cries out for love, for a love that will never let go.

God of love,

in this time together, open our eyes and hearts to see the power and possibilities of love.

God of love,

and then send us back out, refreshed and renewed, to spread love and joy, hope and peace this Christmas season.

We pray in the name of Jesus, Love Incarnate, whose birth is imminent, and who taught us to pray saying...

COMMISSIONING:

The time is near. The birth is just days away!

We enter the last stages of preparing for Christmas.

Joseph and Mary were surprised by how God chose to break into their world.

In the middle of the Christmas hustle we will keep our eyes open for God to surprise us too.

As we go out into the world of white and red and green,

we go listening for angel song, we go ready to share the Good News that a baby is born.

And may the God of Christmas Love go with you.

God Bless us, Every One. Amen.

For December 7, 2014 -- Advent 2

(For those following the Narrative Lectionary this week we are actually using the Isaiah reading set for Advent 3)

CALL TO WORSHIP

As people of peace, we gather for worship

Here we take a few more steps along the road leading to a manger in Bethlehem

As servants who follow the Servant,

we come to sing and pray and listen, we come to be renewed in our worship together.

As those who both serve and are served, we greet our fellow servants with words and signs of God's amazing peace...

OPENING PRAYER

God of peace,

we live in a world where peace is most often noted by its absence.

God of peace,

we come to this place in search of the peace that passes understanding.

God of peace,

in our worship today remind us of the one who brings sight to the blind and releases us from our captivity.

God of peace,

fill us with peace, that we would carry peace to the world around us. Amen.

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

God of peace that flows through justice,

we know that justice is too often absent in our world, and so peace becomes just a word.

In this season of preparation,

help us remember that Jesus was born into a broken world, and yet proclaimed that it would be mended.

As those who follow Jesus,

help us share the light with the nations.

And for those times when we add to the broken-ness and darkness of the world,

in your grace correct us and steer us back to the path of wisdom.

...time of silent prayer...

People look East, the time is near! Love the Lord is on the way! Into this world of pain and injustice comes the Prince of Peace, the Servant who binds up the broken and proclaims the forgiving love of God. WE are forgiven, we are given sight, we are released from captivity. This is news of great joy for all people!

Glory to God in the highest! Amen.

COMMISSIONING:

As our worship ends we return to a world that is also preparing for Christmas

shopping and wrapping and baking and planning.

We return to the world where we live and serve,

pledging to share the Peace of Christ, the promise of healing justice with a hurting world.

Go with God, to share the song of the Angels “Peace on Earth and Good will to All”.

God is with us, born in our midst. Glory to God! Alleluia!

For December 14, 2014 -- Advent 3, Pageant Sunday

CALL TO WORSHIP

As people of joy, we gather together for worship.

Continuing along the road that leads to a manger in Bethlehem.

As we travel along the road we share the story.

Today we hear it from a different perspective.

But still the story fills us with joy.

And so our hearts are lifted as on the wings of eagles.

As we gather to hear the story and sing the carols, we greet each other with the Peace of Christ, whose Birth we await...

OPENING PRAYER

God of joy,

here we bring our sorrows and our fears, those things that threaten to rob our lives of joy.

God of joy,

here we lay our burdens in your hands.

God of joy,

in this time of worship play the melody of joy in our souls, that we would join the birds in song.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the child whose birth is drawing nigh, and who taught his friends to pray saying...

For November 30, 2014 -- Advent 1

CALL TO WORSHIP

As people of hope we gather together for worship.

Here we begin the road that leads to a manger in Bethlehem.

As people with whom God has shared a vision,

we come to worship, to share the vision, to hold it in front of us.

As those who live the vision of peace and justice, we greet each other with words and signs of God's peace...

OPENING PRAYER

God of hope,

here in this place we open our hearts and souls to you.

God of hope,

in this time of worship renew the fires of hope in our hearts.

God of hope,

help us see past the devastations and broken-ness of the world to the time when you will once again be born in our midst.

We pray in the name of Jesus, whose birth we await, and who would one day teach his friends to pray saying...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

God we look at the news headlines and we wonder,

where is there room for hope in such a broken world.

We remind ourselves of your vision for the future and we wonder,

how long do we have to wait for the reign of peace and justice?

The tides of despair threaten to overwhelm us,

and we lose sight of the vision, the letters are too small, we can not read it.

God, as we wait, and wait, and wait,

grant us patience, open our eyes to see the vision, open our hearts that we would be filled with your hope and promise.

And in your grace,

help us to see both where we are part of the broken-ness and where we can be part of enacting the vision.

...time of silent prayer...

In this Advent season of preparation and waiting we wait expectantly. God WILL break into the world again. God WILL share the Good News for all people. Angels will sing and the world will be changed, renewed, restored. We will be changed, renewed, restored as well.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

BLue Christmas Liturgy

With 4 reflections yet to be written (the last one I am reusing from last year because, well, the message remains constant)

God Opens Our Hearts

Words of Welcome

Opening Prayer

God of hope,

we gather here today as those who have known both hope and despair, knowing that hope is what we need.

God of peace,

we gather together for a time of quiet in the midst of the busy-ness of the world. 
God of joy, 
we gather with hearts that are heavy, even as the world around us sings songs of joy and wonder.

God of love,

we gather together in a world where there is so much fear, seeking the power and promise of love.

God of light,

in this time of worship and reflection, ease the heaviness of our hearts, shine light into the shadows of our lives, renew our hope, and fill us with the peace of Christ, in whose name we pray and whose birth we await.

Amen.

Hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem #64 Voices United

God Speaks to Our Hearts

The Cloud of Despair

Scripture Psalm 22:1-2; Romans 8:37-39

Reflection

The Candle of Hope

The Haze of Busy-ness

Scripture Psalm 46:1-5, 10-11

Reflection

The Candle of Peace

The Gloom of Sorrow

Scripture Isaiah 61:1-4

Reflection

The Candle of Joy

The Shadow of Fear

Scripture Isaiah 41:10, 43:1-2

Reflection

The Candle of Love

Hymn Hope is a Star #7 Voices United or A Candle is Burning #6 Voices United (verses 1-4)

The Darkness of Winter

When Blue Christmas services first started to gain traction they were often held on

the night of the solstice, the longest night of the year (and many were in fact given

names like “Longest Night Service of Into the December Darkness). It was a way

to honour not only the reality of our days in this latitude but also the darknesses of

which we have spoken today.

Isaiah wrote “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who

walked in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.” There are times

when we are the people who walk in darkness. And so we come searching for the

light

Scripture John 1:1-9, Luke 2:8-14

Reflection

The center of our circle, the center of the season, the center of our hope. Christ the

Lord is Born! The Light of the World is come!

We have come to our last candle. We have come to the point when we are

reminded of where the hope, the comfort, of the season. The angel speaks across

the centuries of faith and tradition to reach into our own hearts, quelling the fear,

touching the despair with words of hope. “Do not be afraid..for to you is born a

Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”

John reminds us that the God who comes as a child is the God who has been from

the beginning, the Word that brings hope, light and life to a world. Today we

remember the promise of the Light that can never be overcome, no matter how dark

the world may get. Can we join with the angels, even if only with part of our

being or just for a little while, and sing Glory to God for the Christmas gift?

The Light of the Christ-Child

We light this candle to remind us that though we are sometimes the people who walk in

darkness there is a light that the darkness can not overcome. We light this candle to

remind us that while there are times when we are filled with fear for the future the angel

still calls out “Fear Not” for there is Good News.

May the light and warmth of this candle be a source of comfort to us. We are not

alone. Thanks be to God!

God Moves In Our Hearts

We Light our Own Candles

Invitation:

We live as people of hope. We live as people whose hope lies in the light that

shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not, will not, and can not overcome it.

During these next few minutes, you are invited to come forward and light one or more of

the tea lights that are here on the table. These lights may be lights of memory for what

was or hope for what will be, or both.

Prayers for the People

Lord's Prayer

Hymn: Silent Night # 67 Voices United

BLESSING

We have gathered today to share our shadows.

Here, in the shadow of God's healing love, we could name our griefs and sorrows and struggles.

Here we have lit candles to drive away the shadows cast by despair, busy-ness, fear, and sorrow.

We also have lit candles to remind us of what was and what could be.

Now we prepare to leave this place and return to the world. We carry with us the promise of light and warmth in the times of darkness and cold.

And may the light of the candles we lit this afternoon, shine in our hearts to remind us of the Light of the World, that can not be overcome.

Go with God: Parent, Child, and Spirit, the one who lights our path and shares our load.

Amen

Advent Candles from 2004

Please note that the Unison Prayers in these came from the United Church Bulletin Covers for that year.

Advent Candles 2004

(Note, this liturgy utilized the prayers on the back of the Bulletin covers for Advent 2004)

Advent 1 (November 28, 2004) – The Circle

Reader 1: Today is the first Sunday of Advent, four weeks when we get ready for Christmas. This year, as we light our candles, we will think about some of the parts of our advent wreath.

Reader 2: We begin with the wreath itself. It is a circle. The circle has no beginning or end, which reminds us of God and God’s love.

Reader 1: Our lives are full of circles. Things like the hours of the day or the seasons of the year are circles that keep happening over and over again. We light this candle to celebrate the circles of our lives. (a purple candle is lit)

Reader 2: Let us pray as printed on the back of the bulletin:

Holy God, in this Advent season, may the circles of our love be unbroken, as your love to us is unbroken. Draw us close into your circle, that your church may be a sign of hope, and our doors may be open to new people and new possibilities. We pray in the name of the One who is alive forever: Christ, who is, and was, and is to come. Amen

Advent 2 (December 5, 2004) – The Evergreen

Reader 1: It is the second Sunday of Advent, our time to get ready for Christmas. Last week we lit a candle to celebrate the circles in our lives. (a purple candle is lit)

Reader 2: For us Christmas comes in the middle of the winter. In the winter it can be hard to find signs of growth and life outside. But then we see the evergreens, trees which always look alive and full of growth.

Reader 1: .Out Advent wreath is made up of evergreen branches to remind us that God wants us to be growing all the time. The branches also remind us that there is always room for life. We light this candle to remember God’s gift of life. (another purple candle is lit)

Reader 2: Let us pray as printed on the back of the bulletin:

Everlasting God, as the evergreen is alive in all seasons, may we always be alive to your presence, ever-mindful of the wonders of creation that we find all around us. Help us to find new life in times that seem cold and lifeless. Help us to have hopes for peace in the midst of turmoil and strife; For we pray in the name of Christ, who is alive forever. Amen.

Advent 3 (December 12, 2004) – The Holly

Reader 1: It is the third Sunday of Advent, Christmas is getting closer. Today we will light the third candle in our wreath. Already we have lit candles to remember the circles in our lives, and the continued life shown by evergreen branches (two purple candles are lit)

Reader 2: Sometimes people are sad at Christmas. They may miss someone who has moved away, or they may be remembering Christmases spent with someone who has died. It is too bad but sadness is part of life too.

Reader 1: Holly is something that reminds us that God is with us even in the sad times. Its sharp leaves remind us of the pain we sometimes feel and its berries are red like blood. We light this candle to remember the people who are sad this Christmas. (the pink candle is lit)

Reader 2: Let us pray as printed on the back of the bulletin:

God of Advent, you come to us in our joys and in our sorrows. Even as we rejoice in anticipation of the Chris Child’s birth, we know that this is a life that will lead to a cross. Gather us, hold us, and heal us, as we wait for you in this Advent season. We pray in the name of Jesus, who suffered and died, but who rose again and is alive forever. Amen

Advent 4 (December 19, 2004) – The Candlelight

Reader 1: Already it is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, Christmas is almost here! Over the last few weeks we have lit candles and talked about the circles in our lives, about the continued life shown by evergreen branches, and about the mixture of joy and sorrow that makes up life symbolized by holly. (two purple candles and the pink candle are lit)

Reader 2: Here in Canada Christmas comes when the nights are the longest. We need extra lights to fill in when the sun goes down.

Reader 1: Long ago people didn’t have electric lights. Instead they used candles and lanterns. It is amazing how bright a candle can seem when there are no other lights around. We light our fourth candle to remind us that God’s light is with us all the time. (the last purple candle is lit)

Reader 2: Let us pray as printed on the back of the bulletin:

God of light, we give thanks for your gift of love – Jesus, the Light of the World. As the light of a candle’s flame fills an entire room, may your love fill our hearts and our lives. We pray in the name of Jesus, whose light is with us always. Amen.

Christmas Eve (December 24, 2004)

Reader 1: Finally, after all our waiting and preparing, the time has come. It is Christmas at last. Tonight we will light the last candle in our wreath.

Reader 2: So far we have lit candles to remind us of the circles in our lives, of the hope for continued life shown by evergreen branches, of the mixture of joy and sorrow that is part of life shown by holly, and of the light God brings to our lives. (all four candles are lit).

Reader 1: Tonight we light the candle at the center of our wreath. Just as Jesus birth is at the center of our Christmas, so this candle reminds us to keep Jesus teaching and love in the center of our lives (center candle is lit)

Reader 2: Let us pray, as printed in the bulletin:

God of promises and candlelight, tonight we wait with anxious hearts for the birth of a baby. Help us make room amidst all the hustle and bustle of the night to put the baby in the middle. We give thanks that he is born, the Prince of Peace. May his love always be in the center of our hearts, may that center guide our actions. We pray in the name of the baby in the manger, Jesus. Amen