An Advent Candle Lighting Song
This text was written to be used as an Advent candle lighting hymn. While the Sundays of Advent are often associated with hope, peace, joy, and love, this song does something different. Each verse echoes part of the ordination vow that Presbyterian Ministers, Ruling Elders, and Deacons take. We’re asked: “Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy (v1), imagination (v2), intelligence (v3), and love (v4)?” The fifth verse, centering on Christ, should be sung on Christmas Eve.
Tune: TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM, Spring Carol, 14th century [AKA “Good King Wenceslas”]
Lyrics by Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, 2026
1. In the chaos and the dark,
God began creating.
Energy lit like a spark:
Word to life translating.
Jesus dances through our time,
Coming and returning.
May we with his light align!
Hearts within us burning!
2. Sometimes seedlings won’t burst through
Whate’er our devising.
Look, God’s doing something new!
Can’t you see hope rising?
God imagines change through Christ:
One divine and human.
Grant a flash of pure insight
For new ways to serve amen!
3. God’s eternal light is found
Glimmering through wisdom.
Teaching justice, truth abounds,
Sin and evil undone.
Born with us to show the way
To embrace the goodness.
Help us follow, come what may,
As Christ’s hands each one to bless!
4. Cloaked in myst’ry, God above,
Moves in every moment.
Light of grace, revealed in love,
Heav’n to earth he’ll descend.
To grow holy, to be whole,
We need look no further.
Love’s the essence, method, goal,
And the Spirit’s whisper.
5. Christ is born, bright angels cry:
In excelsis deo!
Hear his mother’s lullaby:
I will go where you go.
Our redeemer, prince of peace,
Makes us one, united.
For the lost, the least of these,
Are to heav’n invited.
Image credit: “Advent wreath, 2. Advent, Ehrenbach” by Gerda Arendt, 2024.
I hope this music is useful in your church! Like everything I provide here on So Much Bible, it is under a creative commons license, which means you can use it as long as you attribute me, and don’t sell it.
