{"id":4915,"date":"2009-12-20T05:50:32","date_gmt":"2009-12-20T05:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/2009\/12\/fourth-advent-candle.html"},"modified":"2009-12-20T05:50:32","modified_gmt":"2009-12-20T05:50:32","slug":"fourth-advent-candle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2009\/12\/fourth-advent-candle.html","title":{"rendered":"Fourth Advent Candle"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AdventD.jpg\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer for God’s Help<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear God, thank you for this season of Advent that helps us to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  As we read the Bible and light a candle, may excitement for Christ’s coming burn in our hearts.  Amen.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Scripture Readings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-37, 46-52<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

This psalm celebrates God’s covenant with David and with the descendants of David.  He even calls God “my Father” (vs. 26).  But the psalmist composed this psalm at a time when God’s blessing upon Israel seemed very far away.  He calls upon the Lord to remember his covenant to David.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Isaiah 9:1-7<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Deliverance will come for God’s people through the “son” who is given to them.  He will sit on the throne of David and his kingdom will last forever.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Luke 1:26-38<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is pregnant and will give birth to a son.  Her son will also be “the Son of the Most High” and will sit on the throne of David.  He will be the reigning Son of David and the divine Son of God!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Lighting of the Candle<\/strong><\/p>\n

[As someone lights the final purple candle, the following should be read or paraphrased. If you’re doing this online, click on the wick of the final purple candle.]<\/p>\n

\n

We light this candle because we look forward with eagerness to the birth of a child, the son of Mary and the Son of God!  The purple color reminds us of how serious we are in looking forward to the Son’s birth.<\/p>\n

Prayer of Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear God, as we light this candle, we look ahead with hope to the birth of your Son — the Son of David, the son of Mary.  May we be prepared to welcome him with open arms and open hearts.  O come now, Son of David!  Amen!<\/p>\n

Closing Song<\/strong><\/p>\n

[To be sung to the tune of “O come let us adore him” from “O Come All Ye Faithful.”]<\/p>\n

O come now, Son of David,
O come now, Son of David,
O come now, Son of David,
Christ the Lord! <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prayer for God’s Help Dear God, thank you for this season of Advent that helps us to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  As we read the Bible and light a candle, may excitement for Christ’s coming burn in our hearts.  Amen. Scripture Readings Psalm 89:1-4, 19-37, 46-52 This psalm celebrates God’s covenant…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advent"],"yoast_head":"\nFourth Advent Candle - Jesus Creed<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2009\/12\/fourth-advent-candle.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fourth Advent Candle - Jesus Creed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Prayer for God’s Help Dear God, thank you for this season of Advent that helps us to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  As we read the Bible and light a candle, may excitement for Christ’s coming burn in our hearts.  Amen. 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