1. Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 23rd, 2007
The Christmas Fund expresses love to those who have given their presence, their care and their creativity to churches in the United Church of Christ by means of pension supplements.

2. The gospel of Matthew tells us –
Look the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
Reader 1:
The gospel of Matthew tells us-
Look the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means,
“God is with us.”

3. We light again the Candle of Hope and remember the hopeful ones around us.
Lighter:
We light again the Candle of Hope and remember the hopeful ones around us.

4. The Candle of Hope Lighter: (Light the first 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 first candle)

5. We light again the Candle of Peace and remember peacemakers and peacekeepers.
Lighter:
We light again the Candle of Peace and remember peacemakers and peacekeepers.

6. The Candle of Peace Lighter: (Light the second candle)
The Christmas Fund’s health supplementation brings peace of mind and spirit to many retired pastors, musicians, sextons and administrators.
Lighter: (Light the second candle)

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

8. The Candle of Joy Lighter: (Light the third candle)
The Christmas Fund sends Christmas gift checks that bring joy to retired clergy and lay workers – this year more than ____ of whom are one hundred years old or older.
Lighter: (Light the third candle)

9. God is with us. This is the Candle of Love
God is with us. This is the Candle of Love. God has loved us so deeply, so wisely, so intimately that Christ came to us in a human baby who lay in a manger under starlight. In the presence of this story, each one of us finds ourselves loved by God and able to love one another.
Reader 2: God is with us. This is the Candle of Love. God has loved us so deeply, so wisely, so intimately that Christ came to us in a human baby who lay in a manger under starlight. In the presence of this story, each one of us finds ourselves loved by God and able to love one another.

10. The Candle of Love Lighter: (Light the fourth Candle)
The Christmas Fund expresses love to those who have given their presence, their care and their creativity to churches in the United Church of Christ by means of pension supplements.
Lighter: (Light the fourth Candle)

11. This is our response to the virgin who conceives a child – we love one another. Somebody is hoping for room in the inn of our heart; somebody is waiting for the song of peace; somebody needs a gift of golden joy. Please pause to remember those who need hope, peace, joy or the assurance that they are worthy of love.
(Silence, In some churches people may feel free to softly voice names for intercessory prayer.)
Reader 1: This is our response to the virgin who conceives a child – we love one another. Somebody is hoping for room in the inn of our heart; somebody is waiting for the song of peace; somebody needs a gift of golden joy. Please pause to remember those who need hope, peace, joy or the assurance that they are worthy of love.
(Silence, In some churches people may feel free to softly voice names for intercessory prayer.)

12. (Let us pray)
Emmanuel, God with us, as Advent waiting comes to an end and we anticipate the birth of Christ, shine on the spirits of all who brought us the story – shepherds who watched over us, angels who sang to us, wise people who pointed us to the Star of your love. Amen.
Reader 2:
Let us pray
Emmanuel, God with us, as Advent waiting comes to an end and we anticipate the birth of Christ, shine on the spirits of all who brought us the story – shepherds who watched over us, angels who sang to us, wise people who pointed us to the Star of your love. Amen.