Litany for Fourth Sunday in Advent 2015 - Year C

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

Advent Litany for 22 December 2013

Advent Litany for 22 December 2013

Fourth Sunday in Advent

(Read by leader)

Opening:

Advent is a time of anticipation, of waiting –

of making space in our lives to receive the one who comes.

It is a season of hope,

It is a time when we search for a sign,

when we close our eyes wishing to see 

a child in a manger in Bethlehem so long ago.

And yet, if we open our eyes 

and open our hearts,

we may instead see signs 

of the Christ child in our lives today.

It is a time for preparing our hearts 

to receive this Christ child 

in whatever form he comes to us.

It is a time to watch, and to listen,

for God's sign for us.

Lighting of the candle:

We light the first candle of our Advent wreath,

remembering God's promise of peace for all.

We light the second candle of our Advent wreath,

remembering that Christmas is indeed for everyone.

We light this third candle today,

remembering the path God has laid out for us.

We light the fourth candle of our Advent wreath,

looking ahead to the days that are still yet to come.

And as we do, we wonder...

What do we wait for?

What is our hope?

What will God's sign be in our lives?

Will we see the Christ child this Christmas?

What will the child look like?

And so,

we quiet our hearts to hear.

We try and stay awake to see.

We wait, and we wonder.

Congregational response:

One: Together we quiet our hearts and we pray:

All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

            --Advent Litany by K.K. Hudson-Bates