This candle lighting originally appeared in the Advent worship series "Remembering the Future."
Candle Lighting for Advent and Christmas
Up to three children could participate in the Advent Wreath liturgy each week: one to light the candle, one to do a reading, and one to lead in a closing prayer.
Week 1—Hope
Song
“People in Darkness Are Looking for Light” Carlson
Each week the children’s choir can open the service singing stanzas of this song. On the first Sunday in Advent sing only stanza 2 before the Advent Wreath is lit (sing an additional stanza each successive Sunday in Advent).
Reading
Today we light the candle of hope as we anticipate the coming of Jesus, who is our hope now and forever. We read from 1 Peter 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope.”
Prayer
Dear God,
as we light this candle and begin this new Advent season,
shine the light of your hope into our hearts and world.
Amen.
Week 2—Joy
Song
“People in Darkness Are Looking for Light” Carlson
Have the children sing stanza 2 (repeated from last week), followed by this new stanza composed by James Vanden Bosch to accompany the joy candle of the Advent Wreath:
People in sorrow are longing to smile.
Come, come, come, Jesus Christ.
People with sadness need joy all the while.
Come, Lord Jesus Christ.
These days of adventure when all people wait are days for the advent of joy.
Reading
Today we light the candle of joy because the good news of Jesus’ birth brings us and all people the greatest joy. In Luke 2:10 the angel told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord.”
Prayer
Dear God,
give us joy in our hearts now and forever.
Help us to tell other people about this joy too.
Amen.
Week 3—Love
Song
“People in Darkness Are Looking for Light” Carlson
The children’s choir sings stanzas 1 and 2, plus the additional stanza provided for the second Sunday in Advent.
Reading
Today we light the candle of love because we know that Jesus is love, and he teaches us how to love each other. In 1 John 4:7 John wrote, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Prayer
Dear God,
we love you because we know
that in Jesus you loved us first.
As we light this candle,
make us love each other more and more,
and help us to tell about the love of Jesus
to the whole world.
Amen.
Week 4—Peace
Song
"People in Darkness Are Looking for Light" Carlson
The children’s choir sings stanzas 1–3, plus the additional stanza provided for the second Sunday in Advent.
Reading
Today we light the candle of peace, knowing that Jesus alone can make us feel at rest and calm in our hearts. We remember that in Philippians 4 Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer
Dear God,
give us the gift of Jesus and the Spirit
so that our hearts can be calm and peaceful.
Help us to know how close you are to us all the time,
and help us to show you and your peace
to other people too.
Amen.
Christmas Day
Reading
Today we light the Christ candle because today Jesus, the Light of the World, is born. As this candle burns in the center of the wreath, we re- member that Jesus brings us hope, joy, love, and peace, now and forever. We remember that Jesus is coming again some day and will bring us to his kingdom to enjoy all these good things forever.
Prayer
Dear God,
thank you for sending your Son, Jesus,
to our world.
We need him so much.
Fill us with Jesus,
now and every day.
Help other people
to be able to see Jesus in us.
Amen.
