Keep alert!
Light one purple advent candle.
​
Read: Mark 13:33-37
Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.
​
Jesus Storybook Bible p.144, “Operation ‘No More Tears’!”
​
Pray:
Adult Prayer: Almighty God, give us grace to cast off the works of darkness & put on the armor of light. Amen.
​
Children Prayer: Loving God, help us prepare our hearts for you to come into our lives. Amen.
​
Sing: O come, O come Emmanuel (Hymnal #56)
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.
Prepare the Way
Light the purple candle from week one and then light a second purple candle.
​
Read: Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
​
Jesus Storybook Bible p.200 “Heaven Breaks Through”
Pray:
Adult Prayer: Merciful God, give us grace that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
​
Children Prayer: Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Speed the day of your return. Amen.
​
Sing: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (Hymnal #324)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
Get ready!
Light the two purple candles from week two and then light the pink candle.
​
Read: Isaiah 61:10-11
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my whole being shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
​
Jesus Storybook Bible p.170 “Get ready!”
Pray:
Adult Prayer: Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us. Amen.
​
Children Prayer: God of Love, as we watch and wait Christmas, help us watch and wait for your coming in our lives. Amen.
​
Sing: Come, thou Long Expected Jesus (Hymnal #66)
Come, thou long-expected Jesus
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king,
born to reign in us for ever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
Do not be afraid
Light the first two purple candles and pink candle, then light the last purple candle.
​
Read: Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
​
Jesus Storybook Bible p.176 “He’s Here!”
Pray:
Adult Prayer: Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself. Amen.
Children Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us answer your invitations like Mary did, rejoicing in you! Amen.
​
Sing: Angels We Have Heard on High (Hymnal 96)
Angels we have heard on high,
singing sweetly through the night,
and the mountains in reply echoing their brave delight.
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Joy to the World!
Did you know Christmas is a feast celebrated for 12 days? The 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas day and go until the Epiphany (January 6). Consider something special you can do for yourself or others on each day of Christmastide.
​
Light all four advent candles and finally light the Christ candle!
​
Read:
Isaiah 9:2 & 6 (or Isaiah 9:2-7)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined… For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
​
​
Jesus Storybook Bible p.184 “The Light of the whole world”
Pray:
Adult Prayer: Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a woman: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Children Prayer: Loving God, give us the same joy & excitement as the angels who proclaimed Jesus’ birth. Amen.
​
Sing: Joy to the World (Hymnal 100)
Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Light has come
Light all four advent candles and the Christ candle. Epiphany is a season of light!
​
Read:
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
​
​
Jesus Storybook Bible p.192 “The King of All Kings”
Pray:
Adult Prayer: O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face. Amen.
Children Prayer: Jesus, help us tell others about the good news of your life, death, resurrection, love, mercy, & reigning as king over all things, through all we say & do. Amen.
​
Sing: We three kings (Hymnal 128)
We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright;
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light!