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Week 1: The Candle of Preparation

Light One Candle this Week

Week 1 - Preparation

Sunday Morning (for 2 Readers)

READER 1: In this day and age which we live, it is incomprehensible to worry about
how we will get from place to place, but even as few as 150 years ago, that would have
been an issue for our ancestors. Moving 50 or 60 miles from your place of birth was
common back then.

READER 2: Today, 50 or 60 miles seems so close, just get in the car and drive, but 150
years ago that would have been an 8 to 10 hour ride in a cold wagon.
Plans would begin early for families who wanted to spend Christmas with their mothers,
fathers, brothers and sisters. The best route for winter would have to be decided (no
traveling through rushing waters in this cold), arrangements may have needed to be made
with friends along the way to stop and warm up or perhaps get a warm brick to put
beneath the rugs that covered them to keep them warm. Provisions for food for the trip
would have to be made as well as letting the family know your plans to arrive (not an
easy task in an age where a postage stamp took longer than 24 hours to travel 60 miles
and phones had not even been imagined.)

READER 1: With that picture in mind, let us reflect on where we want to be this
Christmas. Not physically, but spiritually. I want to spend Christmas with my Big
Brother, it is His birthday after all. How will I get there?

READER 2: There is only one way that I know of to get to "Bethlehem" this time of
year. We must spend each day in prayer and study the letters that our Brother has left for
us to show us the way. So, this Christmas let us meditate on our Brother and focus on
getting to Bethlehem to spend Christmas in His presence. (Light the first candle)

READER 1: As we light this candle this week, let us remember that we must be
prepared. Just as you watch the trees to know what season to prepare for, use the Word to
know how to prepare for this trip to Bethlehem. "Even so, when you see these things
happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth; this generation
will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Week 2: The Candle of Proclamation
Light 2 candles this week

Week 2 - Proclamation

Sunday Morning (for 2 Readers)

READER 1: How are your preparations coming to get to Bethlehem? One of the things
we must do is let people know we are coming. We don't want to get to Aunt Bessie's and
her not be ready for our arrival.

READER 2: Jesus sent John ahead of Him to let the world know He was coming. John
proclaimed, "'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" He insisted that
people repent and then be baptized as a sign of their repentance.

READER 1: Jesus sends us out to proclaim His coming also. Just as John proclaimed
that Jesus was about to begin His ministry, we must proclaim the imminence of His
second coming.

READER 2: (Relights the first candle) Prepare for the journey, read the scriptures and be
in prayer.

READER 1: (lights the second candle) And proclaim the Lord's coming until his return.

READER 2: And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I,
the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with
water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Hymn of Proclamation - "Go Tell it on the Mountain"


Week 3: The Candle of Exhortation
Light 3 Candles This week

Week 3 - Exhortation

Sunday Morning (for 2 or 3 readers)

READER 1: The theme for this week is Exhortation.

READER 2: That sounds like such a big word. What does it mean?

READER 3 (or 1): It's a message of warning or encouragement, designed to motivate


persons to action

READER 2: What does that have to do with our preparation to reach Bethlehem?

READER 1: As our ancestors traveled back to their homeland in time for the Christmas
celebration, they may have needed to know where the river gets extremely high or moves
very fast. It would have also been handy to know where the bridge had been washed
away or rocks had blocked the pass.

READER 3 (or 2): As we prepare to journey to Bethlehem for our Brother's birthday,
we will need to be warned of the snares that lay along our path. We need to hear how our
sin can make us late for the celebration and how our stubbornness and selfishness can
block the way. If we pay attention to the Holy Spirit we will hear the warnings of ways
that Satan will try to lead us down the wrong path, and we will be motivated to action,
turning to the right way.
READER 1: John came with exhortations. He warned people to avoid the coming wrath
by repenting and believing on Jesus. Paul preached exhortations. He preached with
authority, and his listeners were motivated to give their hearts to Jesus.

READER 2: Early exhortations will make preparation for our trip easier if we heed
them. (Relight the first Candle)

READER 3: Exhortations will help others if we proclaim them. (Relight the 2nd Candle)

READER 1: Be sure to listen to the exhortations and exhort others in love. (Light the 3rd
Candle)

READER 2: Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you
baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" "I baptize with water,"
John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after
me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

Hymn of Exhortation: "Good Christian Men Rejoice"


Week 4: The Candle of Expectation
Light all 4 Candles this Week

Week 4 - Expectation

Sunday Morning (for 2 or 4 readers)

READER 1: Wow, can you believe it? There's less than a week left till Christmas!

READER 2: Are you ready?

READER 3 (or 1): We've spent a month or more in preparation for this one day.

READER 4 (or 2): We've been reading the scripture, praying more.

READER 1: We've been proclaiming that Jesus is coming.


READER 2: We've been listening to the warnings of the scripture and the Holy Spirit.

READER 3 (or 1): Yes, I think we're ready.

READER 2: This is the week of expectation. Do you remember that week when you
were a child? You were thinking about all of the things you had asked for and expecting
to receive a few of them.

READER 1: And can you imagine the expectation that our ancestors must have had.
They would have been planning to see family they may not have seen since the Christmas
before. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins. What expectation
and excitement!

READER 2: That's how this week will be for those of us journeying to Bethlehem. We
are expecting a joyous celebration for our Brother's birthday, and we are looking forward
to it with anticipation and excitement! It's fortunate for us we're so well prepared. It
makes the celebration so much more joyous and makes this last week of waiting so
special and holy.

READER 1: Yes, I think that we're prepared. (Relight the first candle)

READER 2: We've proclaimed to everyone how excited we are to be celebrating our


Brother's birthday (Relight the second candle)

READER 3 (or 1): I think we've tried to heed the warnings and pass them on. (Relight
the third candle)

READER 4 (or 2): Yes, let's just enjoy this week with expectation for the greatest
birthday celebration our Brother has ever had. (Light the fourth candle)

READER 4: You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the
name Jesus. He 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, and he will reign over the house of Jacob
forever; his kingdom will never end."

Hymn of Expectation: "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

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