Advent

What is Advent?

Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus meaning “the coming”, but the coming of what?

It is a preparation for the coming of Christ in three ways:

The remembrance of the Birth of Christ

The anticipation of the 2nd Coming of Christ

The coming of ourselves to Christ


The Advent Wreath
An Advent wreath is a ring of evergreen holding four candles. The circle symbolizes God’s everlasting love for His creation, and the evergreens represent Christ’s gift of eternal life. The light of each candle represents the light that Christ brings to the World. On Christmas day, a white candle is lit in the center of the wreath to announce the birth of Christ who is the Light of the World. As you (and your family) gather daily for prayer, begin by lighting one candle the first week, two candles the second week, three the third week and so on. Advent is a season of preparation, and each week has a subtheme to help us prepare:

Week 1: 1st candle: HOPE
Week 2: 2nd candle: LOVE
Week 3: 3rd (pink) candle: JOY
Week 4: 4th candle: PEACE
Christmas Eve: Christ-Candle: SALVATION

The scripture verses in this Devotional are based on the book by Megan Dunsmore, The Jesse Tree: An Advent Tradition. From Old Testament to New, these readings point the way to the Messiah.

For more information click here.

1St week of advent: Hope

Advent Wreath

A family member lights the first candle of the Advent wreath.

Then someone leads the family in the following:
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice, the Lord is at hand! Come, Lord Jesus. AMEN.


Scripture:

Sunday, Creation: Genesis 1 - 2:4      

Monday, Adam and Eve:  Genesis 3:1-24          

Tuesday, Noah :  Genesis 6:9-9:17     

Wednesday,  Abraham:  Genesis 15:1-21

Thursday, Isaac: Genesis 22:1-19

Friday,  Jacob: Genesis 28:10-22

Saturday,  Joseph:  Genesis 37:1 - 45:1- 28


Prayer

Leader: 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 for ever. Amen.

Leader: The almighty and merciful Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless us and keep us. AMEN.

**Prayer transforms us**
This day/week what are things we are doing, saying, thinking that prepare us for the coming birth of Jesus Christ?

2nd week of advent: Love

Advent Wreath

A family member lights the first two candles of the Advent wreath.

Then someone leads the family in the following:
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice, the Lord is at hand! Come, Lord Jesus. AMEN.


Scripture:

Sunday, Moses: Exodus 2:1-10       

Monday, Moses: Exodus 20:1-17

Tuesday,  Joshua: Joshua 6:1-27                    

Wednesday, Ruth: Ruth 1:1-4:22

Thursday, Jesse: Isaiah 11:1- 10

Friday, Samuel: 1 Samuel 3:1-17

Saturday, David: 1 Samuel 16:14-23


Prayer

Leader: Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Leader: The almighty and merciful Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless us and keep us. AMEN.

**Prayer transforms us**
This day/week what are things we are doing, saying, thinking that prepare us for the coming birth of Jesus Christ?

3rd week of Advent: Joy

Advent Wreath

A family member lights the first, second and third (pink) candles of the Advent wreath.

Then someone leads the family in the following:
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice, the Lord is at hand! Come, Lord Jesus. AMEN.


Scripture:

Sunday, Solomon: 1 Kings 3:4-15, 6:1-14

Monday, Elijah: 1 Kings 18:1-39      

Tuesday, Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1:1-7:73             

Wednesday, Isaiah: Isaiah 40:1-11

Thursday, Jeremiah: Jeremiah 18:1-12

Friday, Daniel: Daniel 6:1-28

Saturday, Jonah: Jonah 1:1-4:11

 

Prayer:

Reader: O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

**Prayer transforms us**
This day/week what are things we are doing, saying, thinking that prepare us for the coming birth of Jesus Christ?

4th week of advent: Peace

Advent Wreath

A family member lights all four colored candles of the Advent wreath.

Then someone leads the family in the following:

Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice, the Lord is at hand! Come, Lord Jesus. AMEN.

Scripture:

Zechariah and Elizabeth: Luke 1:5-25                   

John the Baptist: John 1:19-28             

Joseph: Matthew 1:18-2:23

Gabriel: Luke 1:26-2:52

Mary: Luke 1:39-56, 2:1-35

Bethlehem:  Luke 2:1-14


Prayer

Continue with other prayers, thanksgivings, and intercessions

Leader: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, 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 for ever. Amen.

Leader: The almighty and merciful Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless us and keep us. AMEN.

**Prayer transforms us**

This day/week what are things we are doing, saying, thinking that prepare us for the coming birth of Jesus Christ?

Christmas eve: salvation

Advent Wreath

Light the center Christ candle, in addition to the other 4 candles.

Scripture, Jesus: Luke 2: 15-20

Prayer

Leader: O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Leader: The almighty and merciful Lord: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless us and keep us. AMEN.

**Prayer transforms us**
This day/week what are things we are doing, saying, thinking that prepare us for the coming birth of Jesus Christ?