[The text of Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19 NRSVUE is found in the brown font. The portion in bold could be read by the congregation with a leader reading the rest of the call to worship. Alternatively you could have a second reader read the psalm. This litany could be used as part of the opening of worship with or without the candle lighting. If used with the candle lighting, the first three candles should be lit before the service begins.]
Call to Worship
Our God of love calls us to come and worship him,
for “we love because he first loved us.”
— 1 John 4:19 NRSVUE
And God gave us a sign of that love.
“Look, the young woman is with child
and shall bear a son
and shall name him Immanuel.”
—Isaiah 7:14 NRSVUE
And so we come to worship with our love
and because we are assured of God’s love for us.
We also come with lament, aware of our need of salvation.
The psalmist says,
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Advent Candle Lighting
Today we light the candle of love.
As we await the coming of the Messiah,
we do so as a people who journey for love,
from darkness to light,
towards justice and peace.
We journey for love,
for Christ loved us first and is coming to set the world a-right.
[Lighting of the fourth Advent candle.]
Sung Response
“Lord, You Were Rich Beyond All Splendor” Houghton
or
“Hope Is a Candle” (st. 1, 2, 4, 3) Leach
