What's So Amazing About Advent? An Advent Wreath Liturgy (Week 4)

Throughout the advent season we’ve taken time
To rekindle our amazement
By remembering the amazing announcements

[light first candle]

The amazing acceptance

[light second candle]

The amazing anticipation

[light third candle]

And the amazing adoration

[light fourth candle]

That are all part of the Christmas story.

And is that all that’s amazing about advent?

Asks the dissatisfied in the crowd.

And the answer, of course, is: no.

There’s one last thing for us to be amazed at in advent:
The amazing arrival.

Because Advent is about waiting, of course
And what we’ve been waiting for throughout this Advent Season
Is the arrival of the Baby Jesus,
Born of a woman
Born under the law
To redeem those under the law
And make us all children of God.

Do you remember how amazing his arrival was?
In the dead of night, while lowly shepherds
Watched their flocks in the darkness
And proud kings slept soundly in palaces of gold,
While emperors dreamed grandiose dreams of ruling the world
And all the inns in Bethlehem
Were bursting at the seams because of it

A Virgin gave birth and a baby was born

Isn’t it amazing?

They wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger
Because there was no room for him in the inn
Angels announced him
Wisemen greeted him
Shepherds came and worshiped
While Mary pondered all these things in her heart.

Absolutely Amazing!

And so we light this final candle, the Christ Candle, tonight
To remind us all, that so long as he is with us in it
This world, his world, truly is an amazing place
And so long as he walks the road with us
Our way will be overflowing with amazement.

[light the Christ Candle]

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.