Year A, Advent 2, Candle Lighting

Lighting of the Second Advent Candle

from Isaiah 11:1-10 and Romans 15:4-13

Reader 1:  Is there hope for our world?

Reader 2:  Well, of course, there is hope for our world.  Jesus is that hope, and he came to give hope to the whole world, not just part of the world. 

Reader 1:  He is our hope.  The spirit of the Lord rests on him.  He delights in reverence.  He works in favor of the needy and the meek.  He is dressed in righteousness and faithfulness.

Reader 2:  Jesus brings peace—unheard of, unimaginable peace.  The wolf will live with the lamb.  The leopard will lie down with the baby goat.  The calf and the lion will dwell together in peace.

Reader1:  For as much as that scene seems miraculous, why do we find it so hard to imagine peace in our time?

Reader 2:  Too often we resign to the fatalistic notion that real peace is impossible.  We have a hard time wrapping our minds around so many different people, whether by age, gender, nationality, race, culture or religion, celebrating a common bond of peace.  The world is far more complicated than the greeting cards we send with the picture of a vulnerable, little lamb cuddled up to a powerful lion—we believe that scene might actually happen.

Reader 1:  Is there hope for our world?

Reader 2:  Of course there is.  Jesus is our hope.  “A little child shall lead them.”

Reader 1:  Isaiah directs our attention to hope in the Child in the manger.

Reader 2:  And there is more.  Because of Christ, we can hope in every child.  Jesus taught us the kingdom belongs to them.

Reader 1:  For every grown up that means we must work to instill the hope of Christ in every girl and boy we meet.  The pathway to peace begins with how we welcome these little ones.

Reader 2:  We care for and provide for them.  We nurture them and teach them.  We talk with children, and more importantly, we listen to them.  In Christ, they are well equipped to be leaders who can proclaim his peace.  “A little child shall lead them”, and we would do well to follow their lead.

(At this point a child should come forward and light two candles in the Advent wreath.)

Child:  Come let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Unison Prayer:  Mighty God of peace, we bow our heads and give ourselves to be led by your Child the Christ that we might have hope.  Bless us to welcome children just as Christ welcomed us.  Bless us to welcome their uncomplicated, idealistic, beautiful, faithful leadership.  Fill us all with the joy and peace of believing so that with one voice the whole world will glorify you the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.