Begin in semi-darkness, as you light the Advent candle(s), one the first week, two the second week, until all four are lit on the last week of Advent: in the winter darkness, we look forward to the coming of Jesus who is our light
Lighting of the Advent Wreath
As the candlelighter lights the first candle on the Advent wreath (and in the second week of Advent, the first and second candles, etc.), say:
Child/Candlelighter: Our King and Saviour now draws near.
All: O come, let us adore him.
Gathered around the lit wreath, sing one of these songs celebrating the Christ child’s coming at Christmas to be our light:
Song: This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine; This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine; This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel – No! I’m gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel – No! I’m gonna let it shine Hide it under a bushel – No! I’m gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Blue Hymnal 89)
O come, O come Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here,
until the son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law,
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
O come, O Dayspring from on high
and cheer us by your drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadow put to flight. Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
O bid our bitter conflicts cease,
and be for us our Prince of Peace. Refrain
Pray together one of these prayers:
Leader: God our Father, you loved the world so much that you sent your only Son to be our Saviour. Help us to love and follow Jesus. Amen.
Leader: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility, that on 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 for ever.
Bible Readings
As you sit around the wreath, read a Bible verse together. Begin by saying, “A reading from…”
Week 1
Sunday: Stay awake! For you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. (Matt 24:42).
Weekdays: A voice cries, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low…And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.” (Isa 40:3-5).
(At the conclusion of the reading, say)
Reader: The Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Week 2
Sunday: In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea went out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matt 3:1-6)
Weekdays: Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119)
(At the conclusion of the reading, say)
Reader: The Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Week 3
Sunday: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matt 1:18-23)
Weekdays: The night is far spent; the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light. (Rom 13:12)
(At the conclusion of the reading, say)
Reader: The Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Week 4
Sunday: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus; he will be great and will be called Son of the Most High…And Mary said, Here am I, the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:26-38)
Weekdays: The wolf shall live with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. (Isa 11:6)
(At the conclusion of the reading, say)
Reader: The Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
Prayer
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, Come to us as shepherd of our souls. We pray for our family and our loved ones (especially…), that you will bless and keep them. We pray for those who are sick or sorrowful (especially…), that you will heal and comfort them. We pray for those who are cold, and those who are lonely, and those who are hungry or afraid or in need, that you will be with them to save. Help us to live in the light of your coming and lead us to you. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
End by saying together the Lord’s prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
After the prayers, choose someone to blow out the candle(s). As the candle is blown out, say:
Child: Come, Lord Jesus.
All: Lord Jesus, come quickly.
More Songs to Sing
Candle, Candle
Light the Advent candle: one! Now the waiting has begun.
We have started on our way…time to think of Christmas Day.
Refrain: Candle, candle burning bright; shining in the cold winter night.
Candle, candle burning bright, fill our hearts with Christmas light.
Light the Advent candle: two! Think of humble shepherds who
were filled with wonder at the sight of the child on Christmas night. Refrain.
Light the Advent candle: three! Think of heavenly harmony.
Angels singing “Peace on earth!” at the blessed Saviour’s birth.
Refrain.
Light the Advent candle: four! Think of joy forevermore.
Christ child in the stable born; gift of love that Christmas morn.
Refrain.
Light the Christmas candle now! Sing of donkey, sheep and cow;
Birthday candles for our king: let the alleluias ring!
Refrain.
The Friendly Beasts
Jesus our brother kind and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around him stood,
Jesus our brother kind and good.
“I,” said the donkey, all shaggy and brown,
“I carried His mother uphill and down.
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town;”
“I,” Said the donkey all shaggy and brown.
“I,” Said the cow, all white and red,
“I gave Him my manger, for a bed.
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head;”
“I,” Said the cow, all white and red.
“I,” Said the sheep with the curly horn
“I gave Him my wool for a blanket warm.
He wore my coat on Christmas morn;”
“I,” Said the sheep with the curly horn.
“I,” Said the dove from the rafters high.
“I cooed him to sleep so he would not cry.
We cooed him to sleep my mate and I;”
“I,” Said the dove from the rafters high.
Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gifts they gave Emanuel,
The gifts they gave Emanuel.
Hymn 88 Come Thou Long-expected Jesus
Come thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King;
Born to reign in us forever; now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
Charles Wesley
