Advent in The United Church of Canada and
The United Church of Christ
Advent Year C, 2021
O Come, Advent: Candle-Lighting Ritual
You are invited to play with these liturgies in a way that works within your congregation’s setting: with multiple voices, scripture sentences, using the question at the end to invite testimony. 
Each week begins with a video of new lyrics to a traditional Advent hymn. Each week builds on the previous weeks, until all four stanzas and refrain are reprised at Christmas. 

Week Four: Love
YouTube link: Advent 4

O Come, Advent: Verses 1-4
O come and be the hope in all our lives
Though chaos and confusion still survive
We know the path of hate all too well
We need our God with us, Emmanuel!
Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to us
And all things shall be well

O come and bring your peace upon the earth
That even now still longs for its rebirth
We seek to live and move in your ways
Guide us to peace and justice all our days
Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to us
And all things shall be well

O come to us like joy of heaven’s dawn, 
From Mary’s womb a faithful paragon
Brought forth into this world by love’s power
Your Spirit through her labors in that hour
Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to us
And all things shall be well

O come you source of Love unto us all
Enlighten us and help us hear your call
To bear your Love out into the wild
And celebrate God’s wondrous holy Child!
Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to us
And all things shall be well

Candle-lighting Ritual (Luke 1:46‒55)
When we feel invisible, ineffective,
Too small to make a difference
The Holy invites us to be God-Bearers
And we shall find Love
(Light candle of Love)
Where in the world do we find Love these days?

Advent in The United Church of Canada and The United Church of Christ: Candle-lighting Ritual for Advent 2021, ©2021 United Church of Canada and United Church of Christ. Permission given to churches to reproduce or adapt in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved. 

O Come, Advent, lyrics and arrangement by Adrian Marchuk. © 2021 United Church of Canada; tune VENI EMMANUEL, Public Domain.  Permission given churches to reproduce and stream for worship or education purposes. All publishing rights reserved.