NOTE: The beginning of the service was unintentionally cut off. It is missing the candle lighting and opening song, 'My Lighthouse'.
Candle Lighting Litany:
Leader: We light a candle of joy. And we imagine:
People: Jubilation! Rejoicing! Do not fear!
Leader: We light the candle and join in God’s song, singing loudly, singing fiercely,
singing together.
People: Imagine that . . . we are God’s wonders, blessed wonders.
Overview
Singing together causes great joy and jubilation.
But, even more, our hearts exult and swell as we imagine God singing over us.
Can you hear God's Song of rejoicing over you?
Scripture
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
On that day
they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
~Zephaniah 3:14-17
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.
~Isaiah 12:1-6
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. What might it sound like when God sings over us? What words might God choose to sing over you? What would the melody sound like? Maybe just think about what the chorus might be, what might be repeated over you?
2. Is it hard to believe that God sings over YOU? Why or why not?
3. In the sermon we discovered that our JOY comes from God's actions, and God's own self. What actions of God towards you has brought you joy? What does it mean that we can find our strength in God's own joy?
