An Advent Candle Litany After A Difficult Year
These litanies have been written by Knox pastoral staff and are available for anyone who would like to use them. No attribution is needed.
Introduction: As we light our weekly Advent candles, we take a posture of anticipation. This season begins with acknowledging our need - and the need of our world - for light in the midst of what has been a particularly dark year. However, as followers of Jesus, we know that we do not wait in vain, but we wait as people grounded in the promises of God. As we light the candle of hope, peace, joy and love, we will speak aloud to one another those promises from Scripture that grounded the people of Israel as they waited for Messiah to come.
Week 1 - Hope - Psalm 27:1,14
A moment of silence is kept.
Leader: We wait in darkness for you, O God.
All: Come, Light of the World.
Leader: Come to our loneliness and our disease. Come to our helplessness and our despair with the flame of hope.
All: Amen, come Lord Jesus.
The candle of hope is lit.
Leader: The Lord is our light and our salvation.
All: Whom shall we fear?
Leader: The Lord is the stronghold of our life
All: Of whom shall we be afraid?
Leader: People of God, let us remain confident of this:
All: That we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Leader: Wait for the Lord and let your heart take courage.
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Week 2 - Peace - Isaiah 11:2, 2:4-5
A moment of silence is kept.
Leader: We wait amidst the chaos for you, O God.
All: Come, Prince of Peace.
Leader: Come to our broken world, divided by race and gender, sexuality and class. Come to our violence and our greed with the clear light of justice, with the healing warmth of peace.
All: Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
The candle of peace is lit.
Leader: The prophets have spoken: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him, and with righteousness he will judge the needy.
All: With justice, he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
Leader: He will judge between the nations, and settle disputes between many peoples.
All: They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Leader: Nation will not rise up against nation
All: Nor will they train for war anymore.”
Leader: Come, people of God. Let us walk in the light of the Lord.
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Week 3 - Joy - Isaiah 12
A moment of silence is kept.
Leader: God, we can hardly wait any longer. We are weary of waiting, and excited for what is to come.
All: Come, O Long-Expected Jesus.
Leader: Come to our desperate longing and to our eager anticipation. Come to our tired hearts and strengthen us with the fire of joy.
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The candle of joy is lit.
Leader: Surely God is our salvation
All: We will trust and not be afraid.
Leader: God himself is our strength and our defense
All: Hallelujah! He has done glorious things.
Leader: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Week 4 - Love - Zephaniah 3:14-17
A moment of silence is kept.
Leader: We wait, aware of our deep need for you, O God.
All: Come, Everlasting Father.
Leader: Come to our wounds and our failures. Come to the empty places within, to our fear and insecurity, to the overwhelming needs of our world, with the gentle glow of your love.
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The candle of love is lit.
Leader: Sing, people of God! Be glad and do not fear.
All: The Lord our God is with us. He is mighty to save.
Leader: He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love, and rejoice over you with singing.
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Christmas Eve
Leader: We have waited for you, O God, with longing and expectation. With pregnant hope.
All: Come, o come Emmanuel.
Leader: We open our lives to you now, welcoming the Christ-light into our hearts and homes. Let it burn with the light of your hope, peace, joy and love for all the world to see.
All: Amen. Come Lord Jesus.
The Christ candle is lit.
Leader: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light
All: On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.
Leader: You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
All: They rejoice before you, as people rejoice at the harvest.
Leader: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders.
All: And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Leader: Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will establish justice and righteousness forever.
All: Hallelujah! God is with us!