1. The 2010 Christmas Fund Advent Candle Liturgy
Readings begin on slide 3

2. Christmas Day December 25th, 2010
The annual Christmas Fund – Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund -- offers hope through pension supplements to active and retired clergy and lay employees who have been messengers of hope to churches throughout the United Church of Christ.
Readings begin on slide 3

3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel! They called the child Jesus, Emmanuel, which means God with us. God is with us always, but tonight we can read that story in our hearts.
Reader 1:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel! They called the child Jesus, Emmanuel, which means God with us. God is with us always, but tonight we can read that story in our hearts.

4. We light our first candle because there is Hope in the story – the hope of prophets and parents for the light of the world
Lighter:
We light our first candle because there is Hope in the story – the hope of prophets and parents for the light of the world.

5. The Candle of Hope Lighter: (Light the first candle)
The annual Christmas Fund – Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund -- offers hope through pension supplements to active and retired clergy and lay employees who have been messengers of hope to churches throughout the United Church of Christ.
Lighter: (Light the first candle)

6. We light our second candle because there is Peace in the story – an angel song not just for one family or one country but “peace on Earth, Good Will to All.”
Lighter:
We light our second candle because there is Peace in the story – an angel song not just for one family or one country but “peace on Earth, Good Will to All.”

7. The Candle of Peace Lighter: (Light the second candle)
The annual Christmas Fund – Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund -- health supplements bring peace of mind and spirit to many retired pastors, musicians, sextons and administrators.
Lighter: (Light the second candle)

8. We light the third candle because there is joy in the story – joy in the human symbols of pine wreath and crèche, of carols and gifts, in the humble sanctuary of this holy evening (day), in the faces of all we meet.
Lighter:
We light the third candle because there is joy in the story – joy in the human symbols of pine wreath and crèche, of carols and gifts, in the humble sanctuary of this holy evening (day), in the faces of all we meet.

9. The Candle of Joy Lighter:
The annual Christmas Fund – Veterans of the Cross and Emergency Fund -- sends Christmas gift checks that bring joy to retired clergy and lay workers– this year more than 30 of whom are one hundred years old or older.
Lighter:
(Light the third candle, often called the Rose Candle)

10. We light the fourth candle because there is Love in the story – a love that makes everywhere Bethlehem and makes all of us the shepherds and Magi who gather there.
Lighter:
We light the fourth candle because love We light the fourth candle because there is Love in the story – a love that makes everywhere Bethlehem and makes all of us the shepherds and Magi who gather there.

11. The Candle of Love Lighter: (Light the fourth candle)
Both active and retired clergy and lay employees experience love as emergency assistance in time of need from the annual Christmas Fund.
Lighter: (Light the fourth candle)

12. Today we light the Christ Candle because Christ is the light at the center of all our stories, and we have come to read and sing these old good tidings with open hearts, so that then we can go out again to share them with all of God’s children.
Reader 2:
Today we light the Christ Candle because Christ is the light at the center of all our stories, and we have come to read and sing these old good tidings with open hearts, so that then we can go out again to share them with all of God’s children.

13. The Christ Candle Lighter: (light the Christ Candle)
The Christmas Fund offers hope to active and retired clergy and active and retired lay employees because they can receive emergency assistance in time of need
Lighter: (light the Christ Candle)

14. (Let us pray)
Emmanuel, god-with-us, we give you thanks for the light that shines on us this night from your star and we long to respond with out hopes and our peacemaking, our joy in this holy-day and our love for one to another. We tell your stories because of your Story – we light our candles to celebrate your presence with us not only tonight but always. Amen.
Reader 1:
(Let us pray)
Emmanuel, god-with-us, we give you thanks for the light that shines on us this night from your star and we long to respond with out hopes and our peacemaking, our joy in this holy-day and our love for one to another. We tell your stories because of your Story – we light our candles to celebrate your presence with us not only tonight but always. Amen.