Celebrating Advent in the Home

The family gathers around the wreath (which is not yet lit).

A purple (blue) candle is lit the first night and all of the first week. During the second week, an additional purple (blue) candle is lit, during the third wee, the rose(pink) candle is lit, and on the fourth week, all four colored candles are lit. the central white candle is lit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

Families may divide responsibilities for leading the service, lighting the candles, and reading scripture so that everyone may have a turn as they are able. An individual will want to omit the portions which call for a response, while following the outline for the remainder of the service.

Advent Wreath Service

Leader: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Leader: Let us pray.
Use the appropriate prayer from the list in the next column.

The candle or candles may now be lit.

O Gracious Light, Phos hilaron (said together)
O gracious Light,
pure brightness of everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy, voices,
O son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

Scripture Reading
(suggested passages for the day found in the third column)

After the Reading
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

The Peace
​Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you
All: And also with you
All may exchange the peace.

Prayer
Leader: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you
Leader: Let us pray
All pray The Lord's Prayer

Leader: The Lord bless us and keep us. Amen.
the Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. Amen.
the Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace. Amen.

Leader: Let us bless the Lord.
People: Thanks be to GOD.

Put out the candle or candles.

Prayers for Advent

​Prayer for the first week of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ​Amen

Prayer for the second week of Advent
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one god, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for the third week of Advent
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for the fourth week of Advent
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ​Amen

Suggested Bible passages

​First Week
Sunday         Matthew 25:1-13
Monday         Isaiah 1:16-18
Tuesday        Isaiah 60:1-3
Wednesday   Psalm 43: 3-5
Thursday       Isaiah 58: 6-9
Friday            1 John 2: 8-11
​Saturday        1 John 3: 1-2

Second Week
Sunday         Isaiah 40: 1-5
Monday         Revelation 1:7-8
Tuesday        Matthew 22:41-45
Wednesday   Hosea 11: 3-4
Thursday       Psalm 130
Friday            Micah 6: 6-8
​Saturday        Jeremiah 14: 8-9

Third Week
Sunday         Isaiah 9: 6-7
Monday         Isaiah 7:10-14
Tuesday        Isaiah 11:1-6
Wednesday   Isaiah 40: 10-11
Thursday       Isaiah 52: 7
Friday           Jeremiah 33: 14-16
​Saturday        Malachi 3: 1-2

Fourth Week
Sunday         John 3:16-21
Monday         Luke 1:1-25
Tuesday        Luke 1: 26-38
Wednesday   Luke 1: 39- 56
Thursday       Luke 1: 57- 66
Friday            Luke 1: 67 -80  
​Saturday        Matthew  1: 18-25

This service follows An Order of Worship for the Evening found on page 109 in the Book of Common Prayer. Additional materials .copyrighted 1999 Frank Logue ([email protected])

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