Litany for Fourth Sunday in Advent 2015

Candlelighting Reading for

Dec 20 (4^th Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

This is the season of Joy.

We remember the joy Elizabeth felt when she heard Mary’s greeting:

Her child leaped in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary, too, is filled with joy, saying,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God!”

Even in difficult times, we can find reasons for joy.

We see the first green leaves to appear after a time of drought,

We hear a bird chirping in the crisp morning air.

We know people who, even in their own times of trial,

reach out to others with love and caring.

And we wonder...

How do we listen, especially during these dark days, for God’s word?

How can we open our heavy hearts to the joy of Christmas?

What do we do to share that joy with others?

Can we simply allow ourselves to shout out, “Glory be to God!”

We light the first Advent candle,

Remembering our hope for justice and peace for our world.

We light the second Advent candle,

Wishing for freedom from fear for all God’s people.

We light the third Advent candle,

Praying for what is right and fair for all in our world.

We light this fourth Advent candle today,

Opening our hearts to receive the joy of Christmas.

One: In hope, we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Third Sunday in Advent 2015

Candlelighting Reading for

Dec 13 (3^rd Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

John the Baptist told the crowds who came to be baptized,

“Whoever has two coats must share

with anyone who has none.”

“Whoever has food must do likewise.”

He exhorted tax collectors not to be corrupt,

and soldiers not to cheat or harass people.

In our world today, we think of families without homes,

of children who grow up hungry or malnourished.

We think of the recent revelations of police mistreatment of people of color.

We remember women who feel trapped or powerless against abuse.

We think of politicians corrupted by their power,

of corporations that pillage our environment because of greed.

And we wonder...

What do John’s words mean for us?

What would John the Baptist be saying today?

What can we do to change structures of power?

Where can we most make a difference in the lives of those who hunger or are powerless?

How do we build a world that is fair and just?

We light the first Advent candle,

Remembering our hope for justice and peace for our world.

We light the second Advent candle,

Wishing for freedom from fear for all God’s people.

We light this third Advent candle today,

Praying for what is right and fair for all in our world.

One: In hope, we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Second Sunday in Advent 2015

Candlelighting Reading for

Dec 6 (2^nd Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

In today’s scriptures,

Luke speaks of a light brought to those who sit in darkness,

We wonder…

Who are God’s people today?

In what darkness and shadow of death are they sitting?

How will God bring them freedom?

We think of refugees fleeing violence in our world.

We think of families broken by violent deaths here and around the globe.

We think of people in prisons, people in war-torn places, people in fear.

We light the first Advent candle,

Remembering our hope for justice and peace for our world.

We light this second Advent candle,

Wishing for freedom from fear for all God’s people.

And we wonder...

How can we be God’s light?

Can we bring new dawn to the lives of people living in fear?

Can we help people find safety?

Can we help guide the world into the way of peace?

One: In hope we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for First Sunday in Advent 2015

Candle-lighting Litany 

Nov 29 (1^st Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

In those days there will be signs--

In the sun, in the moon, in the stars,

There will be distress among nations on earth,

And confusion from the roaring of the sea and the waves.

And yet, God says, "I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel.

I will cause a righteous branch to spring up.

And this branch will bring justice and righteousness into the land."

Then, everyone born will find a place at the table,

And for everyone born, a star will shine overhead.

We in 2015 live in a time of distress among nations...

We see violence and injustice in our world,

We see hunger and hurting across the earth.

As we light this first Advent candle,

We hope for justice and peace for our world.

And yet we wonder...

Are we to be God's branch?

Is God calling us to be creators of justice and joy?

What will God's signs for us be?

What light will shine our way?

Leader: In hope we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Thanksgiving Day 2015

Year B Thanksgiving Day: Matthew 6:25-34

One: God, make us instruments of your peace;

All: Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

One: Where there is injury, pardon;

All: Where there is doubt, faith;

One: Where there is despair, hope;
All: Where there is darkness, light;
One: And where there is sadness, joy.
All: We pray that we may be instruments of your peace, O God.
Amen.

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for All Saints Day

Nov 1, 2015 - All Saints Day lectionary:

One: The earth belongs to God, and all that is in it.

All: God is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

One: And still, God reaches out to wipe away tears from our faces.

All: God cares deeply about each of us.

One: In the Lazarus story, Jesus was deeply moved by Lazarus’ death.

All: Jesus wept.

One: God is Alpha and Omega,

All: God is the beginning and the end. Let us worship God.

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Year C Proper 14 or 15

From Lectionary Readings for:

Year C Proper 14: Hebrews 11:8-12

Year C Proper 15: Hebrews 12:1-2

One: For all the saints, who rest from their labor,

All: We remember all they have done through their faith in God.

One: By faith, Abraham obeyed when God called, living in tents in an unknown land.

All: And by faith, Noah built an ark to save his household.

One: By faith, Moses led the people out of Egypt,

All: And by faith the saints of our own church have been God’s hands in our community.

One: We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses!

All: We pray that we may also run with perseverance the race You set before us. Amen.

            from Hebrews 11:8-12 and 12:1-2

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates