Advent Wreath Prayers: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love

For those looking for an advent wreath reading, these readings by TPW contributor Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia are a great place to start. Focused on the four themes of Advent, and drawn from the Bible, they speak to the heart of this significant season in the life of the church.

First Week of Advent: Hope Candle

READER ONE:

Every year we light candles as we prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
More and more candles, more and more light,
as we watch and wait for Jesus, the Light of the World.

ALL:

God of Promise, come into our darkness.
Renew your hope in us,
for you alone bring life out of death.

READER TWO:

Receive God’s promise of hope from Psalm 33:
The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

ALL:

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

Light the candle of hope

ALL SINGING:
O Little Town of Bethlehem, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, or another song of your choosing

Second Week of Advent: Peace Candle

READER ONE:

Every year we light candles as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
More and more candles, more and more light,
as we watch and wait for Jesus, the Light of the World.

All:

God of Promise, come into our darkness.
Renew your hope and your peace in us,
for you alone bring life out of death.

Reader Two:

Receive God’s promise of peace from Psalm 4:
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
The LORD will hear when we call to him.

ALL:

Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
We will lie down and sleep in peace,
For you alone, O LORD, make us dwell in safety,

amen.

Light the candles of hope and peace

All Singing:

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear or another song of your choosing

Third Week of Advent: Joy Candle

Reader One:

Every year we light candles as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
More and more candles, more and more light,
as we watch and wait for Jesus, the Light of the World.

All:

God of Promise, come into our darkness.
Renew your hope, your peace, and your joy in us,
for you alone bring life out of death.

Reader Two:

Receive God’s promise of joy from Psalm 28:
Praise be to the LORD
For he has heard my cry for mercy
The LORD is my strength and my shield

All:

My heart trusts in him, and I am helped
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song

Light the candles of hope, peace, and joy

All Singing:

Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard on High, or another song of your choosing

Fourth Week of Advent: Love Candle

Reader One:

Every year we light candles as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
More and more candles, more and more light,
as we watch and wait for Jesus, the Light of the World.

All:

God of Promise, come into our darkness.
Renew your hope, your peace, your joy, and your love in us,
for you alone bring life out of death.

Reader Two:

Receive God’s promise of love from Psalm 36:
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
Your judgments are like the great deep
You save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

All:

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

Light the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love

All Singing:

Silent Night or another song of your choosing

Notes:

This worship resource emphasizes the classic Advent candle symbols of hope, love, joy, and peace.

Since the scriptures come from the book of Psalms, these Advent prayers may be used in any liturgical year.

This worship resource calls for “more and more candles” to be lit each Sunday of Advent in order to emphasize “more and more light" coming into the world with Christ's birth at Christmas. Thus, no lighting candles are lit prior to the service. Some prefer to have the previous weeks’ candles lit prior to the service so only one candle is lit each week, thus adding light to those already lit. Feel free to use whichever method you prefer. Generally, the order of the lighting is first purple candle, second purple, third pink, fourth purple. You may want to invite a different congregational family to light the candles each week.

Advent Wreath Prayers: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love © 2013 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com