The First Advent Candle: HOPE
- Reader 1:
As our nights grow longer and our days grow shorter, we look
on these earthly signs — candles and green branches — and remember God’s promise
to the world: Christ, our Light and our Hope will Come.
Listen to the words of Isaiah the prophet:
- Reader 2:
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.
On those who lived in a land of darkness a light has dawned. You have increased
their joy and given them gladness. They rejoice in your presence as those who
rejoice at harvest.”
- Reader 3:
O God, the One who has revealed yourself in Jesus the Anointed,
you come and dwell within us. We are one with you. Amen.
Today we light the candle of Hope — the Hope that Jesus brings.
The first blue candle is lit.
The Light of the Ages
Genesis 1:1-3
A reading from the Light of the Ages:
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth. 2The earth was formless, without substance, as devoid of
light as the abyss. The breath of God— the energy of Spirit—moved powerfully
over the liquid mass. 3Then God spoke: ‘Light! Be!’ And light was!”
The Light of the Ages!
Thanks be to God!
The Light from a Teacher of Truth
The Science of Mind
A reading from the Light of Ernest Holmes:
The Word of God means the power of Spirit to declare
Itself into manifestation, into form. The Word of God means the
Self-Contemplation of Spirit. The manifest universe, as we see it, as well as
the Invisible Universe which must also exist, is the result of the
Self-Contemplation of God… The starting point of all creation is the Word of
Spirit. The Word is the Concept, Idea, Image, or Thought of God.
The Thought of God must be the Cause of all that really
exists; and as there are many existing things, there must be many thoughts in
the Mind of the Infinite. This is logical to suppose, for an Infinite Mind
would necessarily conceive an infinite variety of ideas.
The Light of Wisdom!
Thanks be to God!
The Light of the Master Teacher
The Hermetic Gospel of Poimandres
Our God be with you.
And also with you.
A reading from the Good News according to Poimandres.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
“What you need to know, is ‘That’ within you, which
sees and hears, and comes from God’s Word. Your Self is the [Celestial
Parent], they’re not separate, their union is life…Understand and
recognize this Light behind and within your mind… [It was] God’s wisdom,
which, absorbing the Word and — seeing the beauty of the potential —
actualized [the physical world], creating a universe…”
This is the Good News…the Gospel!
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!