Advent Candles: A Home Celebration Guide
First Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Hope. A time of anticipation and longing for Jesus’ coming.
Read: James 5:7-8
Lighting the first candle: “Why do we light this candle tonight?”
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
Read: Isaiah 7:14 and Jeremiah 33:14-16
Sing: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Pray: God of hope, as we begin Advent, we are tempted to get carried away with gift buying, parties, and decorating. Help us to remember daily that You are the reason for our preparations. Center our hearts on You, the Hope of the world. Jesus, in Your Holy name we pray. Amen.
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Second Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Peace. A time of hope and preparation for the coming of Christ.
Read: 1Thessalonians 5:19-23
Lighting two candles: “Why do we light these two candles tonight?”
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
Read: Psalm 85:8-13 and Isaiah 40:1-11
Sing: “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”
Pray: God of grace, sometimes our lives and actions are anything but peaceful. Help us to quiet our minds, mouths, and bodies, to be still and invite in the peace that can only come through You. Guide us in all that we say and do, that we may reflect Your love and peace. Amen.
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Third Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Joy (pink candle). A time of rejoicing in anticipation of Christmas.
Read: Isaiah 35:1-2, 10
Lighting three candles: “Why do we light these three candles tonight?”
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
“We light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, to remind us of the joy the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born.”
Read: Philippians 4:4-5 and Luke 1:26-3
Sing: “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”
Pray: God we know that some days, we do not act like there is anything to celebrate. Turn our eyes upward and outward, focusing not on ourselves, but on you! Fill our hearts with Joy we pray. Amen.
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Fourth Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Love. The time to feel the hope, peace, joy and love given to us in the greatest gift from God, God’s Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Read: Luke 2:1-7
Lighting four candles: Why do we light these four candles tonight?
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
“We light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, to remind us of the joy the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born.”
“We light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Love, to remind us of the love that God shares with the world through the birth of God’s Son.
Read: Luke 1:39, 45-56 and 1 John 4:7-12
Sing: “Joy to the World!”
Pray: O God, creator of Love, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to model true unconditional love for us. May all that we say and do be done in love and to the glory of Your Holy name. Amen.
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Christmas Eve
The Christ Candle. Our waiting is nearly over. Each week we lit one more candle representing the ever-brightening path that leads us closer to the star under which the Christ Child lay.
Read: Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 9:2-7
Lighting five candles: Why do we light these five candles tonight?
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
“We light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, to remind us of the joy the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born.”
“We light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Love, to remind us of the love that God shares with the world through the birth of God’s Son.
“We light the fifth candle, the Christ Candle because Jesus Christ, the true light of the world has come. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!” (John 8:12)
Read: Luke 2:1-20
Sing: “Silent Night”
Pray: “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!” (Phillips Brooks, 1867)
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Christmas Day
Christmastide (12 days of Christmas) from today through Epiphany on January 6th (Epiphany celebrates the revelation of God’s promise and purpose to all the world, as the magi came from the East to worship to the Christ child) You may choose to continue lighting the Advent Wreath candles nightly, gathering to give thanks to God for the gift of our Savior, Jesus.
Christmas Day Readings
At Dawn- Isaiah 62:6-12, Psalm 97:1-12, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:8-20
Christmas Day- Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98:1-9, Hebrews 1:1-4, John 1:1-14
God bless you and keep you. May you know the deep, deep love God has for you and may the light of Christ shine within and through you, today and always. Amen.
First Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Hope. A time of anticipation and longing for Jesus’ coming.
Read: James 5:7-8
Lighting the first candle: “Why do we light this candle tonight?”
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
Read: Isaiah 7:14 and Jeremiah 33:14-16
Sing: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Pray: God of hope, as we begin Advent, we are tempted to get carried away with gift buying, parties, and decorating. Help us to remember daily that You are the reason for our preparations. Center our hearts on You, the Hope of the world. Jesus, in Your Holy name we pray. Amen.
*******************************************
Second Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Peace. A time of hope and preparation for the coming of Christ.
Read: 1Thessalonians 5:19-23
Lighting two candles: “Why do we light these two candles tonight?”
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
Read: Psalm 85:8-13 and Isaiah 40:1-11
Sing: “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”
Pray: God of grace, sometimes our lives and actions are anything but peaceful. Help us to quiet our minds, mouths, and bodies, to be still and invite in the peace that can only come through You. Guide us in all that we say and do, that we may reflect Your love and peace. Amen.
******************************************
Third Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Joy (pink candle). A time of rejoicing in anticipation of Christmas.
Read: Isaiah 35:1-2, 10
Lighting three candles: “Why do we light these three candles tonight?”
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
“We light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, to remind us of the joy the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born.”
Read: Philippians 4:4-5 and Luke 1:26-3
Sing: “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”
Pray: God we know that some days, we do not act like there is anything to celebrate. Turn our eyes upward and outward, focusing not on ourselves, but on you! Fill our hearts with Joy we pray. Amen.
*****************************************
Fourth Sunday in Advent
The Candle of Love. The time to feel the hope, peace, joy and love given to us in the greatest gift from God, God’s Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Read: Luke 2:1-7
Lighting four candles: Why do we light these four candles tonight?
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
“We light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, to remind us of the joy the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born.”
“We light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Love, to remind us of the love that God shares with the world through the birth of God’s Son.
Read: Luke 1:39, 45-56 and 1 John 4:7-12
Sing: “Joy to the World!”
Pray: O God, creator of Love, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to model true unconditional love for us. May all that we say and do be done in love and to the glory of Your Holy name. Amen.
***************************************
Christmas Eve
The Christ Candle. Our waiting is nearly over. Each week we lit one more candle representing the ever-brightening path that leads us closer to the star under which the Christ Child lay.
Read: Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 9:2-7
Lighting five candles: Why do we light these five candles tonight?
Respond: “We light the first candle of Advent, the Candle of Hope, to remind us of the hope that the people of Israel had for the coming of the Messiah.”
“We light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, to remind us of the peace that enters our lives when we experience the presence of Jesus Christ.”
“We light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, to remind us of the joy the angels proclaimed when Jesus was born.”
“We light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Love, to remind us of the love that God shares with the world through the birth of God’s Son.
“We light the fifth candle, the Christ Candle because Jesus Christ, the true light of the world has come. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life!” (John 8:12)
Read: Luke 2:1-20
Sing: “Silent Night”
Pray: “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!” (Phillips Brooks, 1867)
***********************************************
Christmas Day
Christmastide (12 days of Christmas) from today through Epiphany on January 6th (Epiphany celebrates the revelation of God’s promise and purpose to all the world, as the magi came from the East to worship to the Christ child) You may choose to continue lighting the Advent Wreath candles nightly, gathering to give thanks to God for the gift of our Savior, Jesus.
Christmas Day Readings
At Dawn- Isaiah 62:6-12, Psalm 97:1-12, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:8-20
Christmas Day- Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98:1-9, Hebrews 1:1-4, John 1:1-14
God bless you and keep you. May you know the deep, deep love God has for you and may the light of Christ shine within and through you, today and always. Amen.
