A Litany Series for Advent

from Erika Marksbury, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of McMinnville, OR

Litany for the First Sunday in Advent

The Candle of Hope

One: Long ago, the prophet spoke:
People walking in darkness would see a great light.
People dwelling in despair would be renewed.

All: Jesus, our Brother and our Friend,
We name you the Hope of the World.
We say your coming sets the world right –
The proud are humbled, the forgotten lifted up, the hungry fed.

One: You come at Christmastime
and we remember you meet us every day,
in each stranger and neighbor,
if only we let you in.

All: We light this candle, and we pray:
May hope light the world this Christmas.

Litany for the Second Sunday in Advent

The Candle of Peace

One: Long ago, the prophet set out a vision:
Lion and lamb, snake and child, together.
And no one afraid.
We have nothing to fear from each other.

All: Jesus, our Brother and our Friend,
We name you Prince of Peace.
We say your coming transforms our world –
weapons become plowshares, least become first.

One: You come at Christmastime
and we remember you meet us every day,
in each stranger and neighbor,
if only we let you in.

All: We light this candle, and we pray:
May peace light the world this Christmas.

Litany for the Third Sunday in Advent

The Candle of Joy

One: Long ago, the prophet told the people:
Rejoice greatly! Shout out loud!
You king comes on a donkey – not to rule, but to serve.

All: Jesus, our Brother and our Friend,
We name your birth Joy to the World.
We say your coming is good news –
freedom for the oppressed, release for the captive.

One: You come at Christmastime
and we remember you meet us come every day,
in each stranger and neighbor,
if only we let you in.

All: We light this candle, and we pray:
May joy light the world this Christmas.

Litany for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

The Candle of Love

One: Long ago, the angel told Mary:
God is with you. There is nothing to fear.
And the man in the temple told her:
There is nothing like this love you will feel.

All: Jesus, our Brother and our Friend,
We name you Love Incarnate.
We say your coming makes God known anew –
embracing, healing, forgiving, restoring.

One: You come at Christmastime
and we remember you meet us every day,
in each stranger and neighbor,
if only we let you in.

All: We light this candle, and we pray:
May love light the world this Christmas.

Litany for Christmas Eve

The Christ Candle

One: Long ago, Mary sang, rejoicing:
God has done wonders!
Fed the hungry, lifted the lowly,
remembered those who feared they were forgotten.

All: Jesus, our Brother and our Friend,
We name you the Promised One, God-with-Us.
You come this holy night,
and we remember you meet us every day,
in each stranger and neighbor,
if only we let you in.

One: Come to the hurting places, the neglected corners,
the desperate wounds of our hearts and of our world.
May our wonder at your love overcome all that divides us.

All: We light this candle, and we pray:
Be born again in us this Christmas.
Make us and all things new. Amen.