We rejoice in the baptism of Wyatt James Thompson, son of Derrick and Miranda Thompson, and younger brother of Dalton Thompson!
As of this writing I am not sure how many weeks we will be dealing with this difficult topic as I am in the process of developing it for you.
I have been in active pastoral ministry for over 46 years. One of the most difficult areas of pastoral care is dealing with suicide. I have had to minister to people and families whose lives have been torn asunder because a loved one or friend took their own lives.
A few years ago I taught a session on suicide and over 70 people came. The great majority had experienced the pain of suicide either in their family, or had been touched by a tragic death by someone they knew. Many times people believe things about suicide that have no biblical basis.
My presenting these modules on suicide help to address these issues as well as to give practical advice when one’s life is turned upside down by the aftermath of suicide.
– Pastor Tom Corbell
Advent Litany
Today we continue in the Season of Advent. The color is blue and is symbolic of hope. The first candle is called THE PROPHECY CANDLE. The SECOND CANDLE IS CALL THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE. THE THIRD CANDLE IS CALLED THE SHEPHERD’S CANDLE . TODAY WE LIGHT THE FOURTH CANDLE WHICH IS CALLED THE ANGEL’S CANDLE. It IS THE TIME WHEN THE ANGEL Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God and name Him Jesus.
We read from Luke 1:26-31
26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
WE NOW LIGHT THE ANGELS’S CANDLE AND WE SING
VERSE 1through 4 OF “LIGHT ONE CANDLE’ IN WOV 630
Advent Litany
Today we continue in the Season of Advent. The color is blue and is symbolic of hope. The first candle is called THE PROPHECY CANDLE. The SECOND CANDLE IS CALL THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE. THE THIRD CANDLE IS CALLED THE SHEPHERD’S CANDLE It leads us back to the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel who told the Jews who had been in captivity for 70 years that they would be led home to Judah. God’s Great Shepherd would bring them home. Many years later Jesus would give Himself the title “The Good Shepherd.
11‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12“As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 13“And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14“I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15“I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 16“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”
WE NOW LIGHT THE SHEPHERD’S CANDLE AND WE SING
VERSE 1,2 and 3 OF “LIGHT ONE CANDLE’ IN WOV 630
Advent Litany
Today we continue in the Season of Advent. The color is blue and is symbolic of hope. The first candle is called THE PROPHECY CANDLE. The SECOND CANDLE IS CALLED THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE. It leads us back to the Old Testament prophet Micah who told where the Messiah would be born in the little town of Bethlehem. Micah prophesied in the latter part f the 8th century.
We read Micah 5:2-4
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, (F-RA-THA)
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
3 Therefore He shall give them up,
Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;
Then the remnant of His brethren
Shall return to the children of Israel.
4 And He shall stand and feed His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
WE NOW LIGHT THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE AND WE SING
VERSES 1 and 2 OF “LIGHT ONE CANDLE’ IN WOV 630
Advent Litany
Today we begin the Season of Advent. The color is blue and is symbolic of hope. The fist candle is called THE PROPHECY CANDLE. It leads us back to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who told of the coming of the Messiah 800 years before Jesus was born. We read from Isaiah 9:2-7
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
WE NOW LIGHT THE PROPHECY CANDLE AND WE SING
VERSE 1 OF “LIGHT ONE CANDLE’ IN WOV 630
Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming. The term “Advent” is a version of the Latin word meaning “coming”.
The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.
Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible. Advent candles are often nestled in the evergreen wreath. Additional decorations, like holly and berries, are sometimes added. Their red color points ahead to Jesus’ sacrifice and death. Pinecones can symbolize the new life that Jesus brings through His resurrection. Families begin lighting a candle on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and they light another candle each subsequent Sunday. *
At Union Lutheran we use the color blue for both the cloth paraments on the altar, lectern and pulpit. The four candles are also blue and the color blue represents “hope”. Our hope is in the coming One – Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our Advent Wreath Lighting Families
12/2 First Sunday in Advent – The Prophecy Candle – The Dusty Morgan Family
12/9 Second Sunday in Advent – The Bethlehem Candle – The Luther John Lyerly Family
12/16 Third Sunday in Advent – The Shepherd Candle – The Matt Miller Family
12/23 Fourth Sunday in Advent – The Angels Candle – The Pete Nguyen Family
