Advent Two - Friendship

A Liturgy around the Advent Wreath

The Second Sunday in Advent

The altar party and person(s) asked to light the candle(s) gather(s) quietly around the Advent Wreath. A moment of silence is observed to allow our souls and restless selves to settle. Then lovingly, from our hearts, this contemporary chorus is sung. The wreath is incensed

Gathering

You’re my Friend and you are
my Brother even though you are
a King. I love you more than any other,
so much more than anything

You alone are my strength,
my shield, to you alone
may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart’s
desire and I long to worship you

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Remembering

Leader From ancient times our spiritual

foreparents longed for the arrival of Child

All A Holy One to show us Love’s Way

Leader So open your hearts and do not delay

All For the Friend of our Soul
is here as we pray

Leader Come to us Lord, in whichever
form you choose

All I give you my heart, for you
to love and use

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Lighting

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We sing the first two verse of the traditional Advent
Antiphons during which time the Second Candle of
Advent is lit. (H A&M New Standard 26)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel
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O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel

The Liturgy around the Wreath is concluded by the
Prayer below, said by the Presider
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Jesus,
Friend of my Soul
You are the One
that makes me
Whole

Come to me, Lord, in whichever form you choose.
I give you my heart, for you to love and use


The first part of the prayer above is simple,
and is designed to be repeated for as long or as little as you like.
This form of repetitive praying is called a mantra.
It is also used in Taize chants
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Weekday Practices

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•Pray this prayer during the week.
In the space above, you may want to write or draw
your own prayer, thought or word. Pray as you can…

•During the week, light a candle for friendships –
friendships that bring you closer to heaven and friendships
that you find particularly hard. Light a candle for them…
Be gentle with yourself…

• Also, during the week, light up
like a star with a genuine smile –
from your Self and Soul - and wish people well…

I think one of Jesus’ deepest longings is for us to learn –
really learn the lessons of friendship.
Jesus who said, I call you my friends (see John 15:15)
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Our Spiritual Foreparents
had a Friendship with God


• Abraham was called a friend of God (Is 41:8)


• Moses spoke to God as one would to a friend (Exodus 33:11)


• Job's house - at one point - was blessed by the intimate friendship of God (Job 29:4)

You can’t be a friend of God without also being a friend to your brother or sister made in the image of God… This is the hard work of adult spirituality – a commitment to which we must make our whole lives long…
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