Advent Week 3: Sunday

Advent Wreath

Light the 1st purple candle of Hope
Light the 2nd purple candle of Love

After the angel came to Mary and told her that she would conceive the child in her womb and would call him Jesus, Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38, NRSV.)

And Mary sings her Song of Praise:

…My soul magnifies the Lord…he has scattered the proud

   …He has brought down the powerful from their thrones

       …He has lifted up the lowly

         …He has filled the hungry

             …He has provided for the poor (Luke 1:46-55)

We marvel at Mary, the mother of the Messiah, herself a single, teenaged mother, herself poor and powerless. But she understood that the baby she would call Jesus was sent, not just to her, but to the world…

…To the hungry
    …To the weak
      …To the very young and the very old
         …To those who suffer or are in pain

[Light he rose candle on the Advent wreath.]

We light this third candle to remember Mary, the mother of Jesus. May the light of this candle also remind us that the light of Jesus shines for everyone.

ALL: COME, LORD JESUS. AMEN.

http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/2014-advent-wreath-meditations-second-sunday-of-advent-mcintyre

Directions:

Each night when you gather with family to pray:

· Light the candles and read the liturgy for the week

· Read the days Scripture

· Then do the family application, giving back to God and family craft.

· Pray together as you close out your time.

What does it mean to be joyful?

Simple Definition of joy
         http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joy

· : a feeling of great happiness

· : a source or cause of great happiness 

· : something or someone that gives joy to someone

· : success in doing, finding, or getting something

As a family write your definition of joy.  What brings you joy? Then as a family do something that gives you all joy.  Make cookies and share them or do a blanket fort in the living room.