ADVENT (Year C)

A liturgy for use at home to begin the adventure of what God is up to in Christ.

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Advent 2: Preparation

Sunday, December 10^th, 2006, Year C

Candle Lighting: Light again the first blue candle, saying: “It is for God we wait.”

Light a second blue candle.

Question: Why do we light this candle?

Response: We light this candle to celebrate the gift of forgiveness that prepares us for the coming of our Lord, Jesus, the salvation of God.

Scripture: Read Luke 1: 68-79 [Zechariah's prophecy]

Prayer: You, full of tender mercy,
break upon us,
enter our history,
frighten us with Your refining gift of forgiveness.
How can we hope to prepare
for what will surely shock and shake us?
Do this for us…
level the mountain of our arrogance,
our sureness that we know the Way.
lift us from the valley of the shadow of death,
in all it's myriad forms.
May our love overflow more and more,
with knowledge and full insight
that comes through Jesus Christ,
for the glory and praise of You. Amen.

Singing: Choose from one of the following hymns:

Prepare the Way of the Lord, Isa. 40:3 adapt. Michael Burkhardt, 1990
People, Look East, Eleanor Farjeon, 1928
There's a Voice in the Wilderness, James Lewis Milligan, 1925

Proclamation: 'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' ”

~

Considering Forgiveness: For what do we (ourselves, family, church, nation, world) need forgiveness? Name the places of personal and communal arrogance that need leveling and the needs that need lifting up.

Through the week: At supper each evening, light the first blue candle saying: “It is for God we wait.” and the second blue candle saying: “Prepare the way of the Lord!” Take time to meditate on the gift of forgiveness.

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