ADVENT SERVICES TO CONDUCT AT HOME
for the four weeks of Advent

    The Advent wreath is a way of marking our progress through the season of Advent.  We have an Advent wreath in church, which we light at the beginning of the service each Sunday.  But we also suggest that you get an Advent wreath to put somewhere special in your house.  Or you can make one, following the directions we provide (click here).  On Sunday evenings, or some other time when the members of your household can gather, have a simple service in which you light a candle to mark each week of the season.  You might want to invite someone who is lonesome to join you each Sunday night.  You might also want to print out these instructions, take them to someone who isn't able to get to church, and say the service with them.

    It's simple to do.  All you need is a small wreath and something that will hold four candles.  Light one candle for the first week, two candles for the second week, etc.  It's customary to have purple candles for all the weeks except the third, when tradition has us use a pink or "rose"candle.  This third Sunday of Advent is called "Gaudete" ("gow-day-tay"...a Latin word meaning "joyful") Sunday -- a day in which the solemn mood of the season lifts a little.  But don't get hung up on the color...whatever candles you can find will do just fine.  You will also want a Bible and, if possible, a hymnal.  The service usually begins in darkness, but since you have to read some of it, you'll need a little light.

    When the Advent wreath is used in people's homes, the Episcopal Church recommends a form of the Order of Worship for Evening Prayer, found on pages 109-112 of the Book of Common Prayer.  We've printed that form here for you, with suggested prayers, readings and songs to help with this simple service.  The services are slightly different each week, and some additional Advent prayers are given at the bottom.  Feel free to change the prayers, to word them simply for younger members of your household, or to pick your own hymns.  You may also want to include a time to remember prayers for people in need.  Advent is a time of preparation, waiting, and listening.  We hope this page will help you in that faithful process.

_____________________________________________________________

   The First Sunday of Advent

Gather around a table on which the wreath has been placed.  Select someone to be the "officiant" (a fancy word for leader)

Officiant:  Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord
Response: Thanks be to God 
A reading from scripture:
Matthew 5:14-16

Officiant:  Let us pray
Grant us Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing light, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The collect for the First Sunday 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 both 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.

The first candle is lighted.  An appropriate anthem or psalm may be sung, or silence may be kept.  If you want a suggestion of a hymn, how about "Child of the light" (hymnal #490) or "Come thou long expected Jesus (hymnal #66).  Or, if you want, have everyone say together the Phos Hilaron (below), an ancient hymn of the church.

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the 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.

As this is Thanksgiving weekend, this would be a good time to offer thanksgivings, as well as prayers for other people.

Officiant:  Let us go forth in peace.
Response:   Thanks be to God.

_____________________________________________________________

  The Second Sunday of Advent

Gather around a table on which the wreath has been placed.  Select someone to be the officiant.

Officiant:  Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord
Response: Thanks be to God 

A reading from scripture:
Isaiah 60:19-20

Officiant:  Let us pray:
Grant us Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing light, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The collect for the Second Sunday 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, through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The first and second candles are lighted.  An appropriate anthem or psalm may be sung, or silence may be kept.  If you want a suggestion of a hymn, "This little light of mine" is especially appropriate for children, or you can choose one of the Advent hymns about John the Baptist.  Or, if you want, have everyone say together the Phos Hilaron (below), an ancient hymn of the church.

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the 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.

 
Officiant:  Let us go forth in peace.
Response:  Thanks be to God.

_____________________________________________________________

  The Third Sunday of Advent

Gather around a table on which the wreath has been placed.  Select someone to be the officiant.

Officiant:  Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord
Response: Thanks be to God 

A reading from scripture:
Luke 12:35-37

Officiant:  Let us pray:
Grant us Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing light, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The collect for the Third Sunday 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.

The first, second and third candles are lighted (if you are using colored candles, the third candle will be the pink or "rose" one).  An appropriate anthem or psalm may be sung, or silence may be kept.  If you want a suggestion of a hymn, "Blessed be the King whose coming is in the name of God" (hymnal #74) is particularly appropriate for Gaudete Sunday.  Or, if you want, have everyone say together the Phos Hilaron (below), an ancient hymn of the church.

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the 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.

Officiant:  Let us go forth in peace.
Response:  Thanks be to God.

_____________________________________________________________

   The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Gather around a table on which the wreath has been placed.  Select someone to be the officiant.

Officiant:  Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord
Response: Thanks be to God 

A reading from scripture:
II Corinthians 4:5-6

Officiant:  Let us pray:
Grant us Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing light, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent:
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in 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.

All four candles are lighted.   An appropriate anthem or psalm may be sung, or silence may be kept.  If you want a suggestion of a hymn, how about "O come, O come, Emmanuel" (hymnal #56)?  Or, if you want, have everyone say together the Phos Hilaron (below), an ancient hymn of the church.

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the 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.

Officiant:  Let us go forth in peace.
Response:  Thanks be to God.

_____________________________________________________________

Some other Prayer Suggestions

You might find the prayers below to be a bit more "kid-friendly."  You might also find it interesting and instructive to write your own prayers for your weekly Advent service.  The process of creating a prayer together can be a good way to focus your thoughts on the reason for the season.

Gracious God, we thank you for all the preparations you made for the first Christmas.  Through the prophets you told people to get ready for Jesus.  You gave a baby, John, to Zechariah and Elizabeth.  You chose Mary to be Jesus's mother, and Joseph to provide a home for them.  As we prepare to enjoy Jesus's birthday, make us ready to listen carefully to the Christmas story and to make room for Jesus in our hearts.  Amen

God, we praise you for the joy of expectancy: for waking in the morning to a sense of adventure, for expecting to reach new targets in games or lessons, for expecting to meet new friends, for discovering new things to do, new skills to learn.  We praise you for breaking through into our lives when we least expect you.  We praise you for the season of Advent, when our expectancy grows into excitement as Christmas draws near.  Amen

A prayer by Christina Rossetti:
What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man,  I would do my part; yet what can I give him -- give my heart.

 A prayer by Marian Wright Edelman, found in her book GUIDE MY FEET.

Jesus, small poor baby of Bethlehem,
be born again in our hearts today
be born again in our homes today
be born again in our congregations today
be born again in our neighborhoods today
be born again in our cities today
be born again in our nations today
be born again in our world today.  Amen.

Copyright 1997 by Audrey Nickel for St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Durham, NC
Reformatted Dec 2003; I have not changed the content - jaf