Scripture:
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness
be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus.
Reflection
Reflection
Joy
is at the heart of the journey through Advent to Christmas: Joy in
the knowledge of what God has done throughout the ages, joy in the
realization that God is able and that God does change things for the
better, joy in the assurance that God can enter into our lives no
matter what our situation may be. The Apostle Paul calls us to a life of
rejoicing:
. . to live a life full of rejoicing and gentleness
. . . to put aside worry in the confidence that the Lord is near
. . . . to lift our requests in prayer, with thanksgiving
. . . . . to trust that the Peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
. . to live a life full of rejoicing and gentleness
. . . to put aside worry in the confidence that the Lord is near
. . . . to lift our requests in prayer, with thanksgiving
. . . . . to trust that the Peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.
Let
us then consider the condition of joy in our lives.
. . Do worries sometimes seem larger than our confidence that God is near?
. . . Does the busy-ness of our lives sometime interfere in our life of prayer?
. . . . Does anxiety over the big things of the world ruin the little joys of life?
. . Do worries sometimes seem larger than our confidence that God is near?
. . . Does the busy-ness of our lives sometime interfere in our life of prayer?
. . . . Does anxiety over the big things of the world ruin the little joys of life?
Advent
is a time when we can clean out the inner stables of our lives so
that new life can be born, our spirits may be refreshed, and our
lives may be renewed in the joy of salvation.
Candle Lighting Liturgy
Candle Lighting Liturgy
The
Lord your God is in your midst, rejoicing over you with gladness,
renewing you in love. I will bring you home and restore your
fortunes, says the Lord.In
this new light, we give thanks to the Lord.
With
joy you will draw waters from the wells of salvation.We
will rejoice in the Lord always.
We
light a third candle to reveal the pathway to faithfulness.As
a covenant people we will seek to live in the joy of the Lord.
Source: F.
Richard Garland
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