Lighting the Candle of Hope Advent 1A November 27, 2022
One: The prophet Isaiah shared a word with the weary world, a vision of the day when God will bring our conflicts to an end. God's house will be on top of the highest mountain, and people from all over will come to it.
All: God will judge all countries and settle our arguments.
One: Weapons will be turned into tools for growth.
All: Wars will come to an end.
One: As we wait faithfully for God’s time, we light the candle of Hope.
All: Our hope is in God, who will bring all nations together.
(Respond with verse 1 of “Now It’s Time to Light the Candle.”)
Lighting the Candle of Peace Advent 2A December 4, 2022
One: The prophet Isaiah shared a word with the fearful world, a vision of gentleness and peace. “The wolf shall live with the lamb," he said, and "the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." Animals we would never trust together will eat right next to each other! And their children will be safe with each other.
All: Animals who like meat will eat plants!
One: Tiny children will be safe even in the places we expect them to be in danger.
All: God's mountain will be a peaceful place for all people because everyone will know how God wants things to be.
One: As we wait faithfully for God’s time, we light the candles of Hope and Peace.
All: Our peace comes from God, who became one of us in Jesus.
(Respond with verse 2 of “Now It’s Time to Light the Candle.”)
Lighting the Candle of Joy Advent 3A December 11, 2022
One: The prophet Isaiah shared a word with the grieving world, a vision of vibrant renewal. All of creation will be glad. Even the earth itself will praise God!
All: Dry places like deserts will be full of blooming life.
One: Joy will grow like new crocuses poking up through the ground and spreading out in the front yard.
All: The whole earth will sing praises to God, and so will we!
One: As we wait faithfully for God’s time, we light the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy.
All: In God’s time of joy, all sorrow and sighing will leave us.
(Respond with verse 3 of “Now It’s Time to Light the Candle.”)
Lighting the Candle of Love Advent 4A December 18, 2022
One: The prophet Isaiah shared a word with the lonely world. We will not be left alone. God will give us a sign.
All: A young woman will have a baby.
One: He will be named Emmanuel, which means "God with us."
All: His life and his words will show us how to follow God and choose what is good.
One: As we wait faithfully for God’s time, we light the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
All: In God’s time of love, we will learn to love each other.
(Respond with verse 4 of “Now It’s Time to Light the Candle.”)
Lighting the Christ Candle Christmas Eve Year A December 24, 2022
One: The prophet Isaiah share a word with a waiting world. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined…For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders.”
All: "He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
One: “His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore."
All: "The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”
One: As we stand faithfully on the brink of God’s time, we light the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
All: Tonight we enter God’s time, faithfully. We light the Christ Candle to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus, the Light coming into the world.
(Respond with a carol, such as “Angels From the Realms of Glory” or "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.")
These Advent wreath liturgies created by Martha Spong draw on the Isaiah passages for Advent in Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary, as well as previous liturgies created by the author. The images were created by the author in Canva. Permission is granted for use of both liturgies and images in church settings. You are also free to adapt them to your circumstances (using multiple readers, for instance). This does not constitute permission to publish the readings as a set or to claim credit for them online or in print.