1st candleWe can have hope

because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us.

Our hope comes from God. Isaiah says,

'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.'

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:12-13)

Hope is like a light shining in a dark place.As we look at the light of this candle We celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ

Christingle – name label

My Name

Luke 126In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a

town in Galilee,27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,

a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.28The angel went to her and said,

"Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you."

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.

31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

33and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; his kingdom will never end."

34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"35The angel answered,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

37For nothing is impossible with God."38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered.

"May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Christingle Red Ribbon

John 316"For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Christingle: sticks and sweets

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1

21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."22All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet:23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"– which means, "God with us."24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Christingle: Candle

John 110He was in the world,

and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him.

11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

When the lights go outBefore they came together, she was found to be with childM1:18

Knowing what light isGod saw all that he had made, and it was very good G1:31

The LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day G3:8

Joseph was a righteous man M1:19

Not condemning, but saving J3:17

Not expose her to public disgrace, but divorce her quietly M1:19

He will save his people from their sins M1:21

How will this be? L1:34

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you L1:35 (“God is with us, alleluia”)I am the Lord's servant, May it be to me as you have said. L1:38

“Flickering small in our darkness”

Christingle lighting

May the light that is Jesus lead you always. May your heart be more for the people around you than

yourself. May your resolve be to reach out in love and come alongside

those in need with God’s generous compassion. And may your life be a witness of the blessing that comes

with giving, for the sake of all God’s children, and for the glory of God’s name. Amen