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1st
CANDLE – (purple) THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF HOPE – We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep
the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. “And again, 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)
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2nd
CANDLE – (purple) THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION – God kept his promise of a Savior who would be born in
Bethlehem. Preparation means to “get ready”. Help us to be ready to
welcome YOU, O GOD! “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the
prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain
and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways
smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.‘ (Luke 3:4-6)
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3rd
CANDLE – (pink) THE SHEPHERD CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF JOY – The angels sang a message of JOY! “…and she gave
birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds
living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will
be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into
heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:7-15)
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4th
CANDLE – (purple) THE ANGEL CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF LOVE – The angels announced the good news of a Savior.
God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! “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. For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John
3:16-17)
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5th
CANDLE – (white) “CHRIST CANDLE” – The
white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash
away our sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! “The
next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world!‘” (John 1:29)
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus,
a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said,
‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could
perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ In reply
Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless
he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked.
‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus
answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he
is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit
gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be
born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you
cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone
born of the Spirit.‘” (John 3:1-8)
