First Week of Advent
I want to share the Advent service we are doing at my church. This special season allows us the opportunity to reflect on true meaning through the traditions of Christmas. I encourage you to use these Advent postings with your family during this time of waiting to celebrate the most important birth in history. Wishing you joy this season, R.A. Stites
Opening
Lighting of the first candle to the playing of O Come, O Come Emanuel.
Meditation
The Preparation of Advent
During December leading up to Christmas, we will light the Advent candles as part of our Sunday morning worship. We observe the season of the advent of Jesus Christ for many reasons. Here are four which show how advent involves the whole person:
- It allows us to prepare our hearts for Christmas. In the midst of the hurry and excitement of the season, we center our hearts on why we come together in worship.
- It encourages us to think about the meaning of Christmas, thus involving our minds. Making advent a part of our worship reminds us of the reality of the events of Christmas.
- It allows us to use our bodies in praise as we lift our voices in song. The simple act of lighting the advent candles, sharing the message of advent, and singing the songs of Christmas gives physical expression to our praise.
- It joins our spirits with Christians past, present, and future as we celebrate the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We honor the past when we worship together. We look forward with anticipation not only to Christmas but to all our Lord has promised those who believe when we worship together. We join believers all around the world as we look forward to Christmas.
The celebration of Advent prepares us for joy, centers us with truth, joins us together in worship, and reminds us that the power and majesty of Heaven came to earth in the person of Jesus.
The story of the advent begins with a miracle. Listen to the words of the Gospel:
Scripture
Luke 1:26-38 (New King James)
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Matthew 1:18 - 2:1 (New King James)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Hymn
Join us in song:
Joy to the World
Prayer
Ask someone to pray to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of service when the person who lit them blows them out.
The story of the advent begins with a miracle. Listen to the words of the Gospel:
Scripture
Luke 1:26-38 (New King James)
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Matthew 1:18 - 2:1 (New King James)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Hymn
Join us in song:
Joy to the World
Prayer
Ask someone to pray to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Closing
The Candles remain lit until the end of service when the person who lit them blows them out.
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