Fifth Sunday in Advent

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger -- who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Reader 1: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger – who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

We light again the Candle of Hope and remember those who bring us the good news of Christ’s Advent. Lighter: We light again the Candle of Hope and remember those who bring us the good news of Christ’s Advent.

Candle of Hope The Christmas Fund offers hope to those who have brought the good news of Christ’s birth to many churches in the United Church of Christ by pension supplements. Lighter: (Light the First Candle)

We light again the Candle of Peace and claim the Peace on Earth which once was sung by angels. Lighter: We light again the Candle of Peace and claim the Peace on Earth which once was sung by angels.

Candle of Peace The Christmas Fund’s health supplements bring peace of mind to many retired pastors. Lighter: (Light the Second Candle)

We light the Candle of Joy and celebrate that our church is a place of festivity, tenderness and justice. Lighter: We light the Candle of Joy and celebrate that our church is a place of festivity, tenderness and justice.

Candle of Joy Both active and retired clergy receive emergency assistance in time of need from the Christmas Fund. Lighter: (Light the third candle)

in the holy Bethlehem of this morning. We light the Candle of Love because God has become a human baby under the star shining of this night . . . in the holy Bethlehem of this morning. Lighter: We light the Candle of Love because God has become a human baby under the star shining of this night . . . in the holy Bethlehem of this morning.

Candle of Love The Christmas Fund sends Christmas gift checks to retired clergy, among them this year more than ______ who are one hundred years old or older Lighter: (Light the Fourth Candle)

Tonight we light the Christ Candle – for we are the messengers and we will now go and tell this story on the mountains and by the seacoast, on the highways and by the rivers, in the cities and the large and small towns – that Jesus Christ is born. Reader 2: Tonight we light the Christ Candle for we are the messengers and we will now go and tell this story on the mountains and by the seacoast, on the highways and by the rivers, in the cities and the large and small towns – that Jesus Christ is born.

Christ Candle Lighter: (Light the Fifth Candle)

Gracious God, in this evening of starlit story -- the story of busy inns and taxes, of shepherds and angels, of manger birth and travelers, we give thanks for the storytellers of past and present -- the clergy who share good news, offer peace, preach salvation, and claim your holy presence for everyone. Bless these gifts that they may, indeed, bring hope, peace, joy, and all our love to these messengers of yours. Amen. Reader 1: Gracious God, in this evening of starlit story -- the story of busy inns and taxes, of shepherds and angels, of manger birth and travelers, we give thanks for the storytellers of past and present -- the clergy who share good news, offer peace, preach salvation, and claim your holy presence for everyone. Bless these gifts that they may, indeed, bring hope, peace, joy, and all our love to these messengers of yours. Amen.