The Waiting is Over

A short liturgy for lighting the Christ Candle on Christmas Day.
Voice 1: At last! The day has come!
Voice 2: The first candle encouraged us to wait, and it was a long wait. [THE FIRST CANDLE IS LIT]
Voice 1: The second candle encouraged us to remember God’s promises.
[THE SECOND CANDLE IS LIT]
Voice 2: The third candle encouraged us to prepare the way.
[THE THIRD CANDLE IS LIT]
Voice 1: And the fourth candle encouraged us to make ourselves ready.
[THE FOURTH CANDLE IS LIT]
Voice 2: But now the day is here!
Voice 1: Christ is come.
Voice 2: The centre of it all.
Voice 1: Now we light the central candle to remind us that Jesus, the light of the world, is with us.
[THE CENTRAL CANDLE IS LIT]
Voice 2: Isaiah promised:
Voice 1: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Voice 2: on those who living in a land of deep darkness light has shined."
Voice 1: And John began his Gospel saying:
Voice 2: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Voice 1: In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Voice 2: The Word became flesh and blood and came to live among us.
Voice 1: We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Voice 1 & 2: Let us pray:
All: God of love, you have sent your Son as the light of the world. May we reflect the light of your love not only this special day but every day. Amen.

Shalom

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