Advent Week 1

I have been using an Advent Wreath since the 1980s when my church had an insert in the bulletin for this great practice. That was back when no people from my denomination would even think about celebrating Advent. Now, it is all the rage!

Below is from that original insert, and I do not know who the author is. It is a non-traditional approach to Advent in that the candles are multiple colors and not the traditional three purple, one pink, and one white in the middle. For the traditional approach, I heartily suggest Celebrating the Christian Year by Martha Zimmerman. There is an Advent Service in that book that we do every Sunday of Advent.

PREPARING YOUR HEART FOR CHRISTMAS

Over the years Christians have felt the need to prepare themselves for Christmas. This was never more true than today when the secular influence and interpretation of Christmas all but bury the truth.

The beautiful custom of Advent has helped many to keep their focus on Christ. The word "Advent" means "coming" and refers to the coming of Jesus. The season of Advent is a four-week preparation period for Christmas. 

(Carol's Note: Make sure you start four Sundays before Christmas. It is a different date every year.)

Advent also traditionally includes an Advent wreath with four candles around it. The progressive lighting of the candles represents the dispelling of darkness by the coming of our Lord. This week you might prepare a simple wreath of evergreens and place around it four candles as follows: gold symbolizing prophets, white for angels, green for shepherds, and purple for wisemen. Place a larger red candle in the center of the wreath to represent Christ.

Choose a place to have your Advent worship service and put the wreath there in preparation. This provides a place for your family to come together each day to read the Scriptures and pray. You might discuss beforehand what time of the day would be best. Many families find that the time right after dinner is the most workable. 

"Now while the people were in a state of expectation . . . " Luke 3:15

The Prophets Candle

FIRST SUNDAY ADVENT READINGS

Gather the family together around the Advent wreath with candles and ask the youngest child to light the gold Prophets Candle. Read the Scripture passage for the day, sing carols, and give thanks to God.

This short service is repeated each evening during the week by the light of only one candle.

Sunday

2 Peter 1:19-21; Isaiah 7:13-14; Matthew 1:18-23

Monday

Hebrews 1:1-3; Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 4:13-16

Tuesday

Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-11; Acts 26:22-29

Wednesday

Isaiah 53; Matthew 27:12-14; 27:38; 27:57-60

Thursday

Zechariah 9:9; 11:12-13; 12:10; 

Matthew 21:1-11; 26:15; 27:3-10; John 19:37

Friday

Isaiah 42:1-7; Matthew 12:17-21; Luke 2:32

Saturday

Psalm 22:1-18; Matthew 27:35-46

CAROLS: 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus