Candles and the
Light of the World 

     God is often compared to light, because His presence in our life gives direction.  He shows the way when we are in darkness.  When we have the light of the Lord’s presence, we are encouraged to share that light with others—that’s the idea of holding God out for the world to see and receive the same light.  

     Where the Lord is, there is no darkness.  Jesus Christ came into a dark world and brought light to bear on sin.  He is the light of the world because we see things clearly when He is there in the middle of life to save us from our sin.  

     We look forward to His coming this Christmas, this time when we remember this precious gift from our Heavenly Father.

     There was a time when the Advent Candles on an Advent Wreath were present in many Christian homes during the Advent Season.  Perhaps you would like to bring this Advent custom back into your home this Advent Season.  It takes three blue or purple candles, a pink candle, and a white candle.  The three purple and the one pink candle comprise a ring around the central white candle.  The candles are lit according to the week of Advent, perhaps during home devotional time each day.  Other Advent candle strategies employ a five candle holder, but the color of candles and the format is similar. 

     The first day of each Advent week, you might want to use the little service we abbreviate in our Sunday worship during Advent—I’ve spelled it out below. For the remaining days of the respective Advent week, you just light the appropriate candles for that week during your devotional time.  

     God bless you in this Advent time as we look forward to Jesus’ coming again. 

The First Week of Advent:  The Prophecy Candle

Theme:  Waiting.  The Prophecy Candle opens up the waiting period that anticipates Christmas and honors those who first spoke the promise of the coming Christ Child. 

Theme Verse:  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.  Isaiah 9:2

Reading:  Mark 13:33-37

Prayer:  God, the Father of Light, bless this Advent candle.  Hurry and send your Spirit to us so that, noticed or unnoticed, we may give warmth and light to each person we meet this holy season.  Amen

Candle:  Light the first purple or blue candle.

The Second Week of Advent:  The Bethlehem Candle

Theme:  Preparing.  The Bethlehem Candle is a symbol of the preparations being made to receive and cradle the Christ Child. 

Theme Verse:  But you, Bethlehem, the least of the clans of Judah. from you will come for me the future ruler of Israel whose origins have been of old, from everlasting.  Micah 3:2

Reading:  Mark 1:1-8

Candle:  Light the first and second purple or blue candles.

The Third Week of Advent:  The Shepherd's Candle

Theme:  Sharing.  The Shepherd Candle honors those who were the first to share the good news. 

Theme Verse:  And the shepherds went  back glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen.  Luke 2:20

Reading:  John 1:6-8

Prayer:  God, the Father of Light, bless this Advent candle.  This is a time for caring and sharing, a time for smiling and singing, a time for rejoicing in life itself!  Let us open our hearts fully to others.  Let our faces radiate the joy of Your coming so that everyone we meet will know of You and the gift of life You bring.  Jesus, our Lord, we rejoice in Your coming.  Amen

Candle:  Light the first two purple or blue candles and the rose candle.

The Fourth Week of Advent:  The Angels' Candle

Theme:  Giving.  The Angels' Candle is the candle of joy and love--a reminder of the grace that I given to all who accept the Christ Child. 

Theme Verse:  And at once with the angles there was a great throng of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace for those He favors."  Luke 2:13-14

Reading:  Luke 1:26-38

Prayer:  God, the Father of Light, bless this Advent candle.  O Jesus, You are the light of the world.  You have come to strengthen the weary, to guide the lost, to walk with the lonely.  You are the hope of all people.  Help us to see Your will in us.  Always be with us so that we will come to know You in many ways.  We recognize the glory of Your light when we see a smile on a little child's face.  Teach us always to realize your presence among us.  "Marana tha.  Come, Lord Jesus."  Amen

Candle:  Light all four candles.

Christmas:  The Christ Candle

Theme:  Coming.  The Christ Candle is the candle of Jesus' coming as a baby in Bethlehem. 

Theme Verse:  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Reading:  John 1:10-14

Prayer:  God, the Father of Light, bless this Christmas candle.  O Jesus, You are the light of the world.  Let Your light shine on our paths, light our ways, reveal to others the gift that You are from our Heavenly Father.  Bless our Christmas as we remember You.  Amen

Candle:  Light all four Advent candles and the Christ candle.

     The year we live in always seems to be out of sync with what is going on in church.  Have you noticed that?  Well, the fact of the matter is this:  For the church year, it ends with the "Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity" on November 25, 2007 (or the "Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost," depending on your church's designation).  The first Sunday in the new church year is the "First Sunday in Advent," December 2, 2007.  

     Perhaps you remember seeing your first Christmas decorations back in September.  Weren't we more interest in hurricane season about that time? The world is motivated by sales and profit, and sales start "early."  Not so with the church!  The new church year begins with a time for getting ready for what God is going to do in the world--think about the event of Christmas which celebrates God's intervention in human history by sending His Son Jesus Christ into the world as a baby.  God's gift to the world in the Savior Jesus Christ is free, which is a far cry from the drive for sales in this holy season.  

     Perhaps you would like to know more about the coming of Jesus.  Zion  will have mid-week Advent Vesper Services at 7 PM each Wednesday in Advent, preceded by a light "soup and sandwich supper" at 6 PM.  Community members and friends are invited to join the congregation in getting ready for Christmas by taking some "slow-down" time once a week for the four weeks comprising the Advent Season.  Weekly evening vespers in Advent is a time to think about "really" getting ready for Christmas.  The congregation will join Pastor Dave as they dig into some of the prophecies concerning this very special Baby Whose birth we celebrate December 25.

     Zion's formal "Hanging of the Greens" Service will be held on December 3 at 10 AM.  Midweek Advent Vespers begin November 28 with a light "soup and sandwich supper" at 6 PM with vespers following at 7 PM.

           I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.

          "What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous character we all know.

          He then answered me with a simple statement. "TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled; what did he mean? He guessed my question, and with one quick movement pulled a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood puzzled, Santa said, "Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten."

    Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it in front of the fire place. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, representing the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."

     He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star as the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

     He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of Jesus who fills our lives with light."

     Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases, like Gods love which has no beginning or end."

     He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. "Teach the children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the generosity and kindness we feel during the month of December."

     He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him."

     Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT  and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that HE gave us HIS only SON... We thank God for his very special gift." "Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy Baby and gave HIM gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."

     Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a SUGAR CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the sugar cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back lost sheep to the flock."

     He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.  "Teach the children that it was the angels that announced the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

     Suddenly, I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring to guide us to God. The bell symbolizes guidance and return. It reminds us that we are all precious in the eyes of God.

     "Santa looked back and was pleased. I saw the twinkle in his eyes as he said:

     "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but an humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."

     ~Author Unknown ~

     Adapted by Woodlands Junior School