Here I will share my own thoughts on the Revised Common Lectionary

Advent Lighting - Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Light

Hope

    We light this first candle for Hope
    Hope in what was, what is and what is to come
    Isaiah* reminds us we are the clay and our Creator the potter
    Hope is found when we become the clay
    When we lift our lives up to God and live into our calling
    Our Creator, Hope of the world, Mother and Father to us, encourage us all to live into hope.
    We hope to live into the vessels you have crafted
    Trusting and believing in the Hope we find through our faith in an infant baby who grew into      a Savior.   Amen

*Isaiah 64: 8

Peace

    We light this second candle for peace
    Peace on Earth and to all who hear of Jesus our Savior
    The Psalms* remind us that love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace go hand in hand
    Peace is found when we live for Christ
    When we allow Christ's teaching to invade our hearts and control our actions
    Our Prince of Peace, Savior of the World, Sustainer of our lives encourage us all to live into           peace
    Help us to live lives of peace
    Encourage us all to live into Christ's peace, through our faith and trust let peace reign.                   Amen.  

*Psalm 85: 8

Joy

    We light this third candle for joy
    Joyfully we raise our voices for our Lord and we worship in gladness
    Mary reminds us that our souls can rejoice for God is good to us and that God has done great things      for each of us.*
    Joy is found in the promises of the Lord, in the blessings from God and in the abundance of          life 
    When we acknowledge God working in our lives, we see the joy abounds 
     Gracious and Glorious God we praise your Holy name, we exclaim your love and with joyful hearts we live our lives for you.
    Encourage us to know and see the joy around us
    Grant us courage to seek the joy of a Christ child and sustain that joy within our hearts throughout the year. Amen.
 
*Luke 1: 46-55

Love

   We light this fourth candle for love
   For God's love is unconditional, unmeasurable and unending
   God so loved the world, that God humbly walked among us through Jesus, God's only son
   Love is found when the Holy Spirit works in grace, forgiveness and mercy 
   When we accept God's love into our hearts and our Spirits overflow like rushing waters
   Loving Creator, we praise your love.  We acknowledge the grace in our own lives and how your love works in our lives
   Encourage and sustain us as we pass along your love
   Living into God's great love, help us to love all those we meet and find love in difficult relationships, allowing the Love of an infant overflow from us and into the world. Amen.

Light

   Tonight we light the Christ Candle
   For Christ is the light of the World. 
   Isaiah* prophesied that the Son of God would be born and light would be brought into the world of darkness.
    Light is found in the birth of a baby, the star of the magi and the gift of the Spirit
   When we open ourselves to the light found in the darkness
   Lord of light, we ask that you shine your light into our lives this night.  Brighten even the darkest corners of our souls so that you may be reveal to our whole beings. 
    Live in us, let your light shine through us and into this world.
    As we walk out into the world this evening, let your light shine from us.  May your light guide others to the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of our Sustaining Creator who offered so much in such a humble package. Amen 

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