December 13
Scripture Reading Isaiah 12: 2 – 6

Leader              Surely God is our salvation; we will trust and will not be afraid.
Response         “With joy we watch for signs of God’s coming”.

Leader              God is our strength and our might.  With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Response         “With joy we watch for signs of God’s coming”.

Leader              Give thanks to God, call on God’s name; make known God’s deeds among the nations.
Response         “With joy we watch for signs of God’s coming”.

Leader              Shout aloud and sing for joy, for great in our midst is the Holy One.
Response         “With joy we watch for signs of God’s coming”.

Light two purple candles and the pink candle.

Leader:
We light again the first two Advent candles, the candle of hope and the candle of peace.  As we light the third candle, the candle of joy, we join the heavens and the earth in praising God’s holy name.  With joyous expectation, we watch for signs of god’s coming.

Prayer All:
Father, we are filled with joy because we have hope and peace that you have sent your son for all that believe. Help us to be the voices that proclaim grace and truth. In Christ name we pray.

Amen.

Hymn #177 Stanzas  1 & 4:  “O Word Of God Incarnate”

1) O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky,
We praise You for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.

4) O make Your church, dear Saviour, a lamp of purest gold,
To bear before the nations Your true light, as of old.
O teach Your wandering pilgrims by this their path to trace,
‘Till clouds and darkness ended, they see You face to face.

Words: William W. How (1823-1897)

Music: John P. Hullah (1812-1884)