The First Week of Advent
December 2—December 8, 2018
The Hope Candle

Light the first candle and say: “We light this Advent Candle today as a reminder of the coming of Christ,
the light of the world. We light the candle of Hope as we continue to wait for Christ’s return.”
We remember the anticipation each of us has felt when we wished something would happen. The
Israelites had a long wait for the Messiah. Hundreds of years before Christ was born, Isaiah gave them a
promise of the Messiah’s birth and the people waited in hope.
Christ has promised that he will return to the earth to restore the world to the way God created it to be.
As Christians, we have hope as we wait for this time. Where in our world do you see a need for Christ to
restore the world? What is not as God created it to be?
Almighty God, in your great mercy, forgive all the things we have done; and all things we failed to
do that we should have done. Teach us to live as children of God. Keep us awake and alert,
watching for your Kingdom. Make us strong in faith, so we may glorify Christ as we wait for his
return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

THIS WEEK AT DPC:

December 2 8:30 a.m. Youth Pancake Breakfast, Slack Fellowship Hall
9:45 a.m. Children’s “Come as You Are”Christmas Pageant, Slack Fellowship Hall
10:30 a.m. Worship, 1st Sunday in Advent, Rev. Dr. Todd Speed, lighting the Candle of
Hope, Communion
December 5 5:15 p.m. Wednesday Night Supper, Slack Fellowship Hall
6:30 p.m. Program: Inter-generational Christmas Trivia Night, Slack Fellowship Hall