Title: 4aa
Author: usr108
Company: WELS

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES

These sentences may be spoken and the Advent candles lit in place of the Song of Praise or the Verse of the Day.
Advent 1
M:	We light one Advent candle, remembering Jesus who is coming again.  He will come to gather his people from everywhere, both the living and the dead.
C:	We remember Jesus who will come at the end of time.  None of us knows what day that will be.
M:	We hear his call to watch.
C:	We light one Advent candle as a sign of our watchfulness and waiting.
M:	Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.
C:	Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed. 
One Advent candle is lit. 

Advent 2
M:	We light two Advent candles remembering Jesus who came in history.  He came into a world of sin and death.
C:	We remember Jesus who came as the promised Messiah.  John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord.
M:	We hear his call to repent.
C:	We light two Advent candles as a sign of our repentance and desire for renewal.
M:	Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.
C:	Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed.
Two Advent candles are lit.

Advent 3
M:	We light three Advent candles remembering Jesus, the Light of the world. He came to defeat the prince of darkness.
C:	We remember Jesus who came in answer to his people's prayers.  John proclaimed him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
M:	We hear his call to see the light.
C:	We light three Advent candles as a sign of our trust and confidence.
M:	Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.
C:	Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed.
Three Advent candles are  lit.

Advent 4
M:	We light four Advent candles remembering Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary.  He came to share our humanity.
C:	We remember Jesus whose name means Savior.  He came to save his people from their sins.
M:	We hear his call to give him a place in our hearts.
C:	We light four Advent candles as a sign of our joy and hope.
M:	Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.
C:	Through your Word and Spirit may our souls be blessed.
Four Advent candles are lit.