“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
Christina Rosetti’s 19th century poem is beautiful when read or set to music. I couldn’t choose which arrangement I liked better, so I’ve included both!
Love came down at Christmas,
Christina Rossetti
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
ADVENT PRAYERS WEEK 4 – LOVE
Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces
to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward
to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy
of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!’
Amen.
Prayer for the Lighting of the Candle
Dear Lord, the entire message Jesus brought us can be summed up in one word: Love. Help us to live fully in your great love for us and to do as we were taught by Jesus: to love one another so fiercely that it is our love by which others will know us. As we light the candle today, we remember that your perfect love never ends, and is a light shining in the darkness. We pray that we might bring the light of love to the dark corners of our world.
Amen
