[This outline includes both material for a worship folder and instructions. Remove all material in brackets.]
[Following Second Lesson. Omit General Verse or Verse of the Day and Gospel Acclamation(s); the doxological stanza functions as a Gospel Acclamation.]

The Gospel Lesson
with Advent Candle Lighting

[Sung to the tune of "On Jordan's Bank"]

remove - [Advent 1]

"Oh, Christians, WATCH!" God's faithful Word
Proclaims the coming of the Lord.
Let us with hope our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.  

M:	Even in the darkness of life's chaos and confusion, the light of God's promise shines brightly forth. The PROPHECY CANDLE assures us that, in the coming of Jesus Christ, our God does keep his word.

C:	When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  (Luke 21:28) 

Remove - [Advent 1; light candle during this. The usher who lights the candle either stands off to the side, or - if there is a working sacristy close to the wreath, he can come and go as needed.]

M: 	May the glow of these candles symbolize the light of God's love and grace in Jesus Christ, shining in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. May our paths be lighted with his peace, not only now, but all the days of our lives.

Remove - [Next follows another stanza which is crafted to echo the Prayer of the Day (LBW!) which was spoken earlier. Here is a good place for a choir or soloist to sing an alternate version on some Sundays. Write the words into an existing arrangement]

Sung without introduction [or this rubric can be omitted; the organ should not be loud for this stanza.]

Stir up your pow'r, O Lord, and come
And lead us to our heav'nly home.
From sin's dread dangers, by your might
Protect us, Lord, both day and night. 

Stand   [here, not earlier, so that children can see clearly]

Gospel 

M:  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Remove - [The following response is without introduction. It follows "This is the Gospel of the Lord" in the same was as "Praise be to you, O Christ." This stanza is in effect the Gospel Acclamation.]

[A gifted organist might play a more elaborate setting of this doxological stanza; if brass are used elsewhere in the service, use them here too.]

All praise to God's eternal Son,
Whose advent has our freedom won,
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Spirit, evermore!

[Be seated or remain standing for Creed]

[hymn optional at this point; omit where service length is a concern]

[Sermon (in SWS) or Creed (in CS)]

Modified from "Our Hearts Prepare" © 1985
Creative Communications for the Parish
800-325-9414
St Louis, MO 
Electronic copy from BG with NIV changes from their original, after you gain copyright clearance. Simply call the company and ask if you can reproduce the service(s) in your worship folder (with NIV) instead of purchasing inserts. See end of this file for suggested wording.
[Their fee to me was $10 a few years ago.]
BryGerlach@aol.com

[Example for Advent 3; notice how the rite grows longer each Sunday as additional candles are lighted.]

The Gospel Lesson
with Advent Candle Lighting

[Sung to the tune of "On Jordan's Bank"]

"O Christians, PRAISE!" God's mighty Word
Proclaims the coming of the Lord.
Let us with joy our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

M: 	Even in the darkness of life's chaos and confusion, the light of God's promise shines brightly forth. The PROPHECY CANDLE assures us that, in the coming of Jesus Christ, our God does keep his word.

C: 	When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  (Luke 21:28) 

M: 	The BETHLEHEM CANDLE bids us hear the Word of God with penitent and faithful hearts, and so to make ready for the coming of the Lord.

C: 	It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way for the Lord."  (Mark 1:2,3) 

M: 	The SHEPHERDS' CANDLE shines with joy, a message to be heard . . . and shared, that others may rejoice as well.

C: 	One more powerful than I will come. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  (Luke 3:16) 

M: 	May the glow of these candles symbolize the light of God's love and grace in Jesus Christ, shining in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. May our paths be lighted with his peace, not only now, but all the days of our lives.

[sung without introduction]

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh.
Almighty God, our prayer attend:
Salvation's light and blessing send! 

Stand

Gospel 

M:  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

[sung without introduction]

All praise to God's eternal Son,
Whose advent has our freedom won,
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Spirit, evermore!

[Be seated or remain standing for Creed]

[hymn optional at this point]

[Sermon (in SWS) or Creed (in CS)]

[Contact Bryan Gerlach for a JPG image of four "candle" banners. One banner is added each Sunday, just as one new candle is lighted each Sunday. The banners are of different sizes, starting with the smallest, thus reflecting the Advent wreath. By the end of Advent, the real candles too are of different sizes. The progression of ever larger candles visually "grows" the Advent season toward Christmas. If a Children's Service occurs on the morning of Advent 4, this rite can be incorporated into their service, or the fourth banner can simply be added without using this rite.]

[Eventually the JPG image will be embedded in this file.]

[Earlier in these services, the Song of Praise is omitted as is customary in Advent. Otherwise the service begins as usual, up through the Second Lesson.]

[Not all bracket guidelines in Advent 1 and 3, above, are included in 2 and 4, below.]

The Gospel Lesson
with Advent Candle Lighting

remove - [Advent 2]

"O Christians, HEAR!" God's urgent Word
Proclaims the coming of the Lord.
Let us with faith our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.  

M: 	Even in the darkness of life's chaos and confusion, the light of God's promise shines brightly forth. The PROPHECY CANDLE assures us that, in the coming of Jesus Christ, our God does keep his word.

C: 	When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  (Luke 21:28) 

Remove - [Advent 1; light candle during this. The usher who lights the candle either stands off to the side, or - if there is a working sacristy close to the wreath, he can come and go as needed.]

M: 	The BETHLEHEM CANDLE bids us hear the Word of God with penitent and faithful hearts, and so to make ready for the coming of the Lord.

C: 	It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way for the Lord."  (Mark 1:2,3) 

[light second candle]

M: 	May the glow of these candles symbolize the light of God's love and grace in Jesus Christ, shining in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. May our paths be lighted with his peace, not only now, but all the days of our lives.

Sung without introduction 

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, we pray
That we prepare for Christ the way.
Oh, let his coming give us light
And strength to conquer in the fight!

Stand   

Gospel 

M:  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All praise to God's eternal Son,
Whose advent has our freedom won,
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Spirit, evermore!

remove - [Advent 4]

The Gospel Lesson
with Advent Candle Lighting

"O Christians, TRUST!" God's precious Word
Proclaims the coming of the Lord.
Let us with peace our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

M: 	Even in the darkness of life's chaos and confusion, the light of God's promise shines brightly forth. The PROPHECY CANDLE assures us that, in the coming of Jesus Christ, our God does keep his word.

C: 	When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  (Luke 21:28) 

M: 	The BETHLEHEM CANDLE bids us hear the Word of God with penitent and faithful hearts, and so to make ready for the coming of the Lord.

C: 	It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way for the Lord."  (Mark 1:2,3) 

M: 	The SHEPHERDS' CANDLE shines with joy, a message to be heard . . . and shared, that others may rejoice as well.

C: 	One more powerful than I will come. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  (Luke 3:16) 

M: 	The ANGELS' CANDLE brings near the love of God in Jesus Christ, proclaiming the eternal hope we have in his coming.

C: 	Blessed are they who believe that there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken to them from the Lord!

M: 	May the glow of these candles symbolize the light of God's love and grace in Jesus Christ, shining in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. May our paths be lighted with his peace, not only now, but all the days of our lives.

Stir up your pow'r, O Lord; draw near.
Remove the sin that binds us here,
That in your birth we celebrate
Your saving mercy, good and great!

Stand

Gospel 

M:  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

[sung without introduction]

All praise to God's eternal Son,
Whose advent has our freedom won,
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Spirit, evermore!

Suggested wording for requesting permission to reprint.

I would like to print out in a worship folder a modified version of "Our Hearts Prepare" © 1985. The only changes I want to make are to use NIV for the quoted scripture. I prefer to print out the material rather than use the reusable cards because that is our regular custom and so that I can make more clear some weekly variations, such as having a choir or soloist sing the middle hymn stanza.

Please let me know if we may have permission to use this material and what the fee for this use would be.

Each Sunday we prepare ## copies of the worship folder.

Contact Name: King Schoenfeld
Company: Creative Communications
E-mail: king@creativecommunications.com