On the Fourth Sunday of Advent we lit a Fourth candle:
the candle of LOVE.
If you have advent candles at home – light Four candles each day until Christmas.
Here is a Prayer you might like to use as you do so:
We light this candle to remind us that the transforming love of God is coming into the world.
God with us, God beside us, comes soon to the world he has made.
We are God’s children:
We seek the coming of Christ. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Bible Reading
The Word became flesh – John 1.1-5
Story
Music
Advent Antiphons
These antiphons, or refrains, all beginning ‘O …’, were sung according to the Roman use, on the seven days preceding Christmas Eve (17–23 December). They are addressed to God, calling for him to come, with a tapestry of scriptural titles and pictures that describe his saving work in Christ. It is not known when and by whom the antiphons were composed, but they were already in use by the eighth century.
Here I will for each of these ‘days’ give the title and the relevant verse from that famous Advent Hymn for you to read or sing.
December 23 – O come O come Emmanuel
O come O come Emmanuel !
Redeem thy captive Israel
That into exile drear is gone
Far from the face of God’s dear Son.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
