2011 Christmas Fund Advent Candle Liturgy The First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2011

We gather this morning around our Advent wreath, symbol of this new season in evergreen and unlit candles. The first candle is the Candle of Hope. We have many hopes – someone here hopes for a new job, a college acceptance, a pain-free day, a special face at the Christmas table, or a special present under the tree. Reader 1: We gather this morning around our Advent wreath, symbol of this new season in evergreen and unlit candles. The first candle is the Candle of Hope. We have many hopes – someone here hopes for a new job, a college acceptance, a pain-free day, a special face at the Christmas table, or a special present under the tree.

“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (Ps 80) Because God’s face shines on us and our hopes, we can light one candle. Reader 2: “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (Ps 80) Because God’s face shines on us and our hopes, we can light one candle.

Light the Candle of Hope Lighter: (Light the First Candle)

We are grateful to those who remind us to hope and to express our hopes aloud – for smaller personal concerns and for the great hopes of justice and compassion in every corner of the earth. Reader 1: We are grateful to those who remind us to hope and to express our hopes aloud – that smaller personal concerns and for the great hopes of justice and compassion in every corner of the earth.

(Let us pray) Emmanuel, God-with-us, we come to this sacred season with hopes for ourselves, for our families and churches, for our world. You accept them all – the Santa-lists and global longings. Because your face shines upon us, we promise to reflect hope on every face and in every place in the week to come. Amen. Reader 2: Let us pray Emmanuel, God-with-us, we come to this sacred season with hopes for ourselves, for our families and churches, for our world. You accept them all – the Santa-lists and global longings. Because your face shines upon us, we promise to reflect hope on every face and in every place in the week to come. Amen.

The annual Christmas Fund – Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund offers hope through pension supplements to active and retired clergy and active and retired lay employees who have been prophets of hope to churches throughout the United Church of Christ. Lighter: The annual Christmas Fund – Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund offers hope through pension supplements to active and retired clergy and active and retired lay employees who have been prophets of hope to churches throughout the United Church of Christ.

Unison Prayer… The psalmist reminds us of the hope that God places in our lives and teaches us to be bold in asking for it, “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” Unison: The psalmist reminds us of the hope that God places in our lives and teaches us to be bold in asking for it, “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”

Unison… Emmanuel, Holy One, your face shines on our lives and they are filled with hope. As you have lit our thanksgiving festivities – the abundant and the meager, the festive table and the lonely chair, we call upon you to be the light of our Advent season now beginning. Shine on the email sent and the soldier far from home, the shopping expedition and the overworked mail carrier, the pageant planning and the one who rings the Salvation Army bell outside a wintry mall. Let our faces reflect to others the hope you shine in us. Amen. Unison: Emmanuel, Holy One, your face shines on our lives and they are filled with hope. As you have lit our thanksgiving festivities – the abundant and the meager, the festive table and the lonely chair, we call upon you to be the light of our Advent season now beginning. Shine on the email sent and the soldier far from home, the shopping expedition and the overworked mail carrier, the pageant planning and the one who rings the Salvation Army bell outside a wintry mall. Let our faces reflect to others the hope you shine in us. Amen.