Here’s a set of Advent candle-lighting litanies written by Rev. Abi, and posted on her Long and Winding Road blog. They are based on the traditional advent themes: Hope, Peace, Joy and Faith. She uses Love for the Christmas Eve litany.
First Sunday of Advent: the Candle of Hope
In a world of war, famine, and disease,
where children grow up as orphans,
where families go hungry
and entire regions face destruction by illness,
God, we call upon you to come.
In a world where so many have lost hope,
we call upon you, Lord of Hope, to come.
In this season of Advent,
we wait for the coming of Hope into our world.
We await the birth of the Christ-child,
the coming of God into our lives in a new way.
Come, Messiah, come, and save us.
Light the first purple candle.
Prayer:
Dear God, we pray for the hope that is in Christ
to come into our lives in a new way.
May we become hope that is alive in our world. Amen.
For the rest of the litanies, click here.
— written by Rev. Abi, on her Rev-o-lution website. These litanies are part of a larger Lessons and Carols: A Traditional Candlelight Service available here.
See other great resources for Advent and Christmas worship on her site.
For more worship resources for the season of Advent, see this index of Advent Worship Resources, or click on Advent 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. For Christmas worship resources, see this index of Christmas Worship Resources.
