Worship Programs

Theme:

"Hope of Earth, Joy of Heaven"

Fourth Sunday in Advent -

Reading for Candle Lighting

Heaven on Earth!

LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS!

First reader:    On the Fourth Sunday in Advent we light again the “Christ candle” together with the rose-colored candle.  As we reignite the candles of joy, peace and hope, we add the gift of God’s love to the circle.

Second reader:     Wrote Christina Rossetti, “Love came down at Christmas, love all    lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign.”

Third reader:    In the days of His flesh, Jesus “went about doing good,” and His selfless love did more good than anything else. 

First reader:    The love God offers to us is a practical love.  He plans for us to have a good day - every day.

Second reader: The love God offers to us is a sacrificial love.  He came down to our level and died for us.

Third reader:    The love God offers to us is a faithful love.  He loved us before we   were born.  He loves us now.

First reader: The love God offers to us is a complete love.  Such love is all we need to get through this life triumphantly and to enter into everlasting life in His presence.

Second reader:  “Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful love, coming to me from Heaven        above, filling me, thrilling me through and through; O it was wonderful love!” - Emmanuel Rolfe.

Third reader:  Love came down at Christmas!

Prayer:

Our Lord,

We thank You for Your love which is practical, sacrificial, faithful and complete.  We look to that day when “. . . the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noonday bright, and Christ’s great kingdom shall come to earth, the Kingdom of love and light.”

We ask Your special blessing for those who preach and publish the glad tidings of Your love.  Amen.