The document is an Advent reading that references scripture passages about the coming of Jesus Christ as the light of the world. It includes readings from Isaiah and John describing how Jesus brings light and life to those living in darkness. Candles are lit symbolizing hope, peace, love and joy as the reading celebrates the promise of God's coming through Jesus. The reading concludes by thanking God for sending Jesus to shine his light into the darkness and illuminate the truth.

1. ALL:
Watch and wait for Christ’s coming!
Light candles of hope, peace, love, joy and
light
remembering the promise of God with
prayer.
We light this candle in HOPE…
We light this candle for PEACE…
We light this candle with LOVE…
We light this candle in JOY…
And We light this candle to celebrate the

2. READER #1:
Hear the Word of the Lord from Isaiah 9…
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Those who have lived in a land of darkness –
on them light has shined.

3. READER #2:
And from the gospel of John, chapter 1…
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. In Him was life, and
that life
was the light of all mankind. The light shines
in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.

4. READER #1:
There was a man sent from God whose name
was John. He came as a witness to testify about
that light, so that through Him all might
believe. He himself was NOT the light; he came
only as
a witness TO the light.

5. READER #2:
The true light that gives light to everyone was
coming into the world. He was in the world,
and the world was made through Him, but the
world did not recognize Him. He came to that
which was His own, but His own did not receive
Him. Yet to all who DID receive Him, to those
who believed in His name, He gave the right
to become children of God…

6. READER #1:
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling
among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of
the one and only Son, who came from the
Father, full of grace and truth.

7. ALL:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for all that
You have provided for us and reminded us of
this Advent season. We thank You for the hope
we have in Jesus, both now and forever. We
thank You for His peace, so graciously given.
We thank You for the unconditional love He
brings us, allowing
us to be adopted as Your sons and daughters.
We thank you for the joy that comes from
knowing and following You, through Jesus as
our Rescuer and King.

8. ALL:
And tonight, we thank You most of all for the
light and life that Jesus alone brings into the
darkness
of our broken, sinful world. May the power of
Your light shine into every crack and crevice
of our hearts, minds and lives, revealing all
that needs to be
removed, and illuminating the truth of who
You
are and who You’ve made and called us to be.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus,