Post on 19-Jul-2020
transcript
ADVENTA Guideline For Pastors
Here is a suggested guide on how to use the Advent Videos and in what order to play them. There are six videos in this series, to be shown over a five week period leading up to Christmas Day.
The Introduction video would be used prior to the first week of Advent as a way to educate your congregation about Advent, its practice, traditions, and meanings.
The five main Liturgy videos would be used each Advent week/service to help introduce, go along with, or take the place of a traditional candle lighting Advent observance.__________________________________________________________________
Three of the five Liturgy videos use the symbol of the Purple candle. While we provide a recommended order for their usage, these can also be interchangeable in weeks 1, 2 and 4 of the Advent season.
The Pink Candle (or The Joy Candle) is traditionally used on the third week.
The White Candle (or The Christ Candle) is traditionally used during a Christmas Eve service.__________________________________________________________________
For more information about Advent, we recommend the following resources written by Mark D. Roberts:
“Discovering Advent” E-Bookat amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com
Web Links:www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/introduction-to-advent/
www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/series/advent-devotional-guide-preparing-for-the-coming-of-christ/
Other writings and resources by Mark D. Roberts can also be found at: www.thehighcalling.org
THE INTRODUCTORY VIDEO
ADVENT: INTRODUCTIONo This serves as an Advent primer for those unfamiliar with the tradition.
This can be used the week before Advent begins.o At least 5 Sundays before Christmas Eve.
THE LITURGY VIDEOS
THE HOPE CANDLE (Purple)o Recommended for Week 1 of Advent.o 4 Sundays before Christmas Eve.
THE PREPARATION CANDLE (Purple)o Recommended for Week 2 of Advent.o 3 Sundays before Christmas Eve
THE JOY CANDLE (Pink)o Traditionally used Week 3 of Advent.o 2 Sundays before Christmas Eve
THE LOVE CANDLE (Purple)o Recommended for Week 4 of Advent.o The Sunday before Christmas Eve
THE CHRIST CANDLE (White)o Traditionally used during the Christmas Eve serviceo Also considered optional; most but not all Advent observances use the
White candle.
The remaining pages of this PDF are the specific Liturgies seen in each video, verbatim. We recommend printing these out and inserting the corresponding liturgy into your bulletins each week, or provide them elsewhere in your sanctuary for people to access. This will help each member of your congregation to not only engage more with the text of each liturgy, but then also enable people to take the Liturgies home to continue to pray over and contemplate them throughout each week of the Advent season.
THE HOPE CANDLEWaiting For The Shepherd
BLESSINGOh God, we have strayed
from the path of righteousness.
We rejoice, remembering the promiseof Your Son, our Shepherd.
CONTEMPLATION“…and they will all have one shepherd.”
- Ezekiel 37:24
Holy Spirit,prepare our hearts
for the coming Christ,
that we may anticipateHis arrival,
The ShepherdWho will guide us.
SCRIPTURE“…like a shepherd,
He gathers the lambs in His armsand carries them close to His heart.”
- Isaiah 40:11
PRAYERDear Lord, we wait for Your coming
as our Good Shepherd.
Please gather us in your arms,feed us with spiritual food,and wipe away every tear
from our eyes.
David’s Psalm is our cry:“Hear us, Shepherd of Israel…
let your face shine on us,that we may be saved!”
Come, our Shepherd!
Amen.
ADVENT
THE PREPARATION CANDLEWaiting For Forgiveness
BLESSINGOh God, we need a saviour who will
forgive us our transgressions
Speak to us prophetically so thatwe may grasp the seriousness of our sin.
CONTEMPLATION“He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities…
“…the punishment that brought peacewas upon Him…”
- Isaiah 53:5
Dear God, we recognize our sin,and our need for a Saviour.
We long to be purified
Prepare us for Your coming
The Saviour who will redeem us.
SCRIPTURE“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant…
“…for I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more.”
- Jeremiah 31:31 & 34
PRAYERDear God, remove from us
the awful stain of our transgressions
restore to usthe joy of Your salvation
David’s Psalm is our cry:“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits…
He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”
Come, our Saviour!
Amen
ADVENT
THE JOY CANDLEWaiting With Expectation
BLESSINGCenturies ago, Christ came to us as a child
So too we anticipate Christ’s coming again as King of Kings
Oh God, we rejoice! Your arrival draws near.
CONTEMPLATION“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to face…”
“Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,even as I am fully known.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:12
Dear God, create in us a beautiful paradox
The joy of finding You while still pursuing You
The joy of having You yet always wanting You
SCRIPTURE“Everlasting joy will crown their gladness and joy will overtake them…
…and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”- Isaiah 35:10
PRAYERLike Your prophet Zephaniah, we rejoice in Your soon coming
To take away our punishment and gather the exiles.
We rejoice in Your Second Coming,
when You return for Your bride to bring her home
SCRIPTURE“…He will appear a second time, not to bear sin,
but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”- Hebrews 9:28
David’s Psalm is our cry:“In Your presence is fullness of joy,
at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
We Wait for You, Rejoicing!
Amen
ADVENT
THE LOVE CANDLEWaiting For The Son
BLESSINGHeavenly Father,You first loved us
By promising a Child,born of a virgin
Who would be an atoning sacrificefor our sins
CONTEMPLATION“And the government shall be on His shoulders,
and He will be called Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
- Isaiah 9:6
Oh God,You have fulfilled Your promise
We rejoicein Your faithfulness
Give us courage to respondwith Love and Compassion
SCRIPTURE“The virgin will be with child
and will give birth to a son and they will call himImmanuel – which means, “God with us.”
- Matthew 1:23
PRAYEROh God, we look forward with eagerness
to the birth of a Child
Prepare us to welcome Himwith open arms and open hearts
David’s Psalm is our cry:“Lift up your heads, O you gates;be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.”
O Come Now, Son of David!
Amen
ADVENT
THE CHRIST CANDLEThe Lord Has Come
BLESSINGGenerous God, You have prepared us
to receive Your giftof love and joy, of hope and healing
For unto us a Child is born,for unto us a Son is given
CONTEMPLATION“The Word became flesh
and made His dwelling among us.We have seen His glory…The One and Only,
Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”- John 1:14
Gracious God, You have given new lifewith the presence of Immanuel,
God with us
God’s Son has come into the world,and He will come again in glory
SCRIPTURE“Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David,
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”- Luke 2:10-11
PRAYERYou came to us and became like us,
to redeem us
Oh Lord, make our joy complete,so that Your work will be made complete
in us, and in the earth
David’s Psalm is our cry:“Let the heavens rejoice,
and the earth be glad before the Lord:for He cometh!”
O Come, Let Us Adore Him!
Amen
ADVENT