Advent Candle Lighting

Scripture: The angel of the Lord went to Mary and said, “Greetings, most favored one, the

Lord is with you! God has been gracious to you;

you shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall give him the name Jesus. He will be great; he will bear the title ‘Son of the Most High’; the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he will be King over Israel forever; His reign shall never end.

Luke 1:28, 30-33

Meditation: Mary’s fear of the heavenly messenger was replaced by great joy and love when she heard his message. Her son would be the Messiah! The Lord let his face shine upon her, and filled her life with light and happiness. Mary gave forth with praise and thanksgiving, thanking the Lord for the wondrous things he had given her. So should we shine before the coming of His Son, the Light of our lives.

The second candle of Advent, the Bethlehem candle, is the candle of love. God’s love is a perfect love. He holds nothing back. God, in love, gives us everything we need to live a life of hope and peace.

Love never ends. We light the candle of love to remind us that Jesus brings us God’s love and shows us how to love others.

Carol: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

O little town of Bethlehem,

How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light:

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.

Prayer (In Unison):

Heavenly Father, rescue us from the gloom of despair and hopelessness. Fill our lives with the light of your grace and help us to do Thy will as we look forward to the coming of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the everlasting Light. Amen!