The Meaning of Advent and the Origin of the Advent Wreath

Schedule of Christmas Services, 2007

The First Sunday of Advent

The following introduction may be used on Sunday only or on each day of the week.

Leader As the winter nights grow longer and the days grow short, we look upon these earthly signs - candles and green branches - and remember God's promise to the world: that Christ, our Light, our Springtime, and our Hope, will come to us.

The first purple candle is lit.

Leader: Hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah as he tells us that the light of Christ is coming into the world.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Is. 9:2)

Prayer (said by all)

O God, we rejoice as we remember the Advent of thy Son.
As light shines forth from this candle,
may the blessing of Christ shine upon us,
To brighten our way,
To guide us by His truth,
And to bring life and light into the darkness of this world. Amen.

Hymn (said or sung by all)

O come, thou Day-spring from on high,*
And cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

*Day-spring is a very old word which means sunrise or daybreak.

The Second Sunday of Advent

The following introduction may be used on Sunday only or on each day of the week.

Leader: As the winter nights grow longer and the days grow short, we look upon these earthly signs - candles and green branches - and remember God’s promise to the world: that Christ, our Light, our Springtime, and our Hope, will come to us.

The first and second purple candles are lit.

Leader Hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah as he announces that a virgin will give birth to a son who will be God with us.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel - God-with-us. (Is. 7:14)

Prayer (said by all)

O God, we rejoice as we remember the Advent of thy Son.
As light shines forth from this candle,
may the blessing of Christ shine upon us,
To brighten our way,
To guide us by His truth,
And to bring life and light into the darkness of this world. Amen.

Hymn (sung or said by all)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Third Sunday of Advent

The following introduction may be used on Sunday only or on each day of the week.

Leader: As the winter nights grow longer and the days grow short, we look upon these earthly signs - candles and green branches - and remember God’s promise to the world: that Christ, our Light, our Springtime, and our Hope, will come to us.

The first and second purple candles and the rose candle are lit.

Leader: Hear again from Isaiah the Prophet as he tells us that a son from the house of Jesse shall bear the Spirit of God and shall bring into being a realm of universal peace.

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Is. 11:1, 2, 6)

Prayer (said by all)

O God, we rejoice as we remember the Advent of thy Son.
As light shines forth from this candle,
may the blessing of Christ shine upon us,
To brighten our way,
To guide us by His truth,
And to bring life and light into the darkness of this world. Amen.

Hymn (sung or said by all)

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord’rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

The following introduction may be used on Sunday only or on each day of the week.

As the winter nights grow longer and the days grow short, we look upon these earthly signs - candles and green branches - and remember God’s promise to the world: that Christ, our Light, our Springtime, and our Hope, will come to us.

The first and second purple candles, the rose candle, and the last purple candle are lit.

Leader: Hear again the words of Isaiah the Prophet as he foretells that the one born to Mary will be the Son of God.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Is. 9:6)

Prayer (said by all)

O God, we rejoice as we remember the Advent of thy Son.
As light shines forth from this candle,
may the blessing of Christ shine upon us,
To brighten our way,
To guide us by His truth,
And to bring life and light into the darkness of this world. Amen.

Hymn (sung or said by all)

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid thou our sad divisions cease,
And be thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

In Christmastide

The four candles of the Wreath and a white candle, placed in the center, are lit.

Leader: Hear the words of St Luke’s Gospel which tell the story of the birth of Jesus.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Lk 2:6-7)

Prayer (said by all)

O God, who hast caused this holy season to shine
with the brightness of the true Light:
Grant us, we beseech thee,
that as we have known the mystery of that Light upon earth,
so may we also perfectly enjoy him in heaven;
where with thee and the Holy Spirit he liveth and reigneth,
one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Hymn

A Christmas carol of your choice!