LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH: The Four Advent Candles & The Christ Candle
CHRISTMAS EVE HYMN – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain
O come, thou Rod of Jesse,
free thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain
O come, thou Dayspring,
come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain
O come, thou Key of David,
come, and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain
O come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy call. Refrain
O come, Desire of nations,
bind in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:1-5
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
LESSON
Sometimes taking a trip is fun, like when we go on vacation. Sometimes it’s not so fun, like when we go to the doctor when we’re sick. But usually when we are on a journey, whether a short trip or a long one, we experience something new. We learn things on a journey. Mary and Joseph went on a journey. If we were to take the same journey by car it wouldn’t take very long, but because Mary and Joseph were walking, it took a long time. They had to go to Bethlehem because the country’s ruler said they had to. But it was all part of God’s plan. That is the one thing that Joseph and Mary learned on their journey.
THINK OR TALK ABOUT
What new journeys did you take this past year? What did you learn?
PRAYER
Guide our journeys wherever they take us, holy God.
CHRISTMAS EVE PRAYER
Almighty God,
as we prepare with joy
to celebrate the gift of the Christ-child,
embrace the earth with your glory
and be for us a living hope
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.