Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means “coming.” It is a time of expectancy and waiting–waiting for the coming of the Messiah, Christ Jesus. It is a time where we not only celebrate the First Coming of our Savior, but also a time where we look forward to His Second Coming when “He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead” (from the Nicene Creed).
On the left-hand column you’ll find links to our Advent liturgies.
Table of Contents
- Advent 1—Lighting of the Prophet’s Candle
- Advent 2—The Bethlehem Candle
- Advent 3—The Shepherds’ Candle
- Advent 4—The Angels’ Candle
- Christmas Eve/Day—The Christ Candle
Advent 1—Lighting of the Prophet’s Candle
Speaker: Please join us as we read the Advent Liturgy.
{Light one purple candle}
{While candle is being lit…}
Speaker: What does this first candle symbolize?
Speaker: The first candle reminds us of the promise given through the Prophets that a Messiah would come, a promise given many years before that blessed event. Just as the Prophets and people waited for the fulfillment of the promise, we also wait the celebration of Christ’s birth, and His Glorious Return.
All: “Jesus said, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’” John 8:12
Speaker: In the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned, the LORD promised the Savior would come to crush their enemy, Satan, who represented himself as a serpent to deceive Eve:
Congregation: “The LORD God said to the serpent, … ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.’” Genesis 3:14,15
Speaker: Then the Lord promised the Savior to Abram through his descendants: “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’” Genesis 12:1-3
Congregation: Through the Prophet Isaiah, the LORD told us what Jesus Christ would be like, and promised He would bring a world of peace where there is no war. We still await the fulfillment of part of this promise through Christ’s return!
Speaker: “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them.” Isaiah 11:1-6
All: “May Your lovingkindnesses also come to us, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your promise.” Psalm 119:41
Speaker: Let’s pray.
{Prayer.}
Advent 2—The Bethlehem Candle
Speaker: Please join us as we read the Advent Liturgy.
{Light two purple candles.}
Speaker: The first candle reminded us of the prophets who foretold of the coming of Christ, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker: What does the second candle symbolize?
Speaker: The second candle reminds us of God’s preparation for the coming of the Christ-Child, to be born in Bethlehem of Judah.
Speaker:God’s plan was a long time in the works. He was busy preparing the world for the coming of the Savior who would bring salvation into the world by paying for our sins.
Congregation: “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5
Speaker: The Lord was preparing people for the coming of the Son of God. The Lord Himself was to be their Messiah.
Congregation: “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1
Speaker: The Lord was busy preparing for the birth of the Messiah in an insignificant part of Judah, Bethlehem.
Congregation: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. “ Micah 5:2
Speaker: When the little town of Bethlehem began to buzz with activity, everyone thought it was because the Roman government had ordered the world to be taxed in their hometowns. But, this was just part of God’s plan, so that Mary and Joseph would return to Bethlehem, the city of David, for Jesus Christ to be born there.
All: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 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. Luke 2:1-7
Speaker: Let’s pray.
{Prayer.}
Advent 3—The Shepherds’ Candle
Speaker: Please join us as we read the Advent Liturgy.
{Light two purple candles then one pink.}
{While candles are being lit:}
Speaker:The First candle reminded us of the prophets who foretold of the coming of Christ, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The second candle reminds us of God’s preparation for the coming of the Christ-Child, to be born in Bethlehem of Judah.
Speaker: What does the third candle symbolize?
Congregation: The third candle reminds us that the Shepherds were the first to receive the glorious news of the birth of Christ. Just as they received this news, when they had witnessed it for themselves, they too became messengers for Christ.
Speaker: God uses messengers to tell His wonderful news. Isaiah 52 says this about God’s messengers:
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, they shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes when the LORD restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, you waste places of Jerusalem; For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52: 7-10
Speaker:The shepherds received from the angels the wonderful news telling them of the birth of the Savior.
All: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14
Speaker: The shepherds acted on the news given them by the angels, and then they, too became messengers!
All: And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:15-18
Speaker: Let’s pray.
{Prayer.}
Advent 4—The Angels’ Candle
Speaker:say…“Please join us as we read the Advent Liturgy.”
Speaker: Light 2 purple candles, 1 pink candle, and 1 purple candle. (The 3rd candle is pink and the 4this purple.)
While the candles are being lit:
Speaker:What does each candle symbolize?
CONGREGATION: The first candle reminds us of the prophets who foretold of the coming Messiah.
The second candle is the Bethlehem Candle, reminding us of God’s preparation for the coming of the Christ-Child to be born in Bethlehem.
The third candle reminds us that the Shepherds were the first to receive the glorious news of the birth of Christ.
Speaker:The fourth candle reminds us of the angels and the part God gave them in preparing people for the coming of the Christ-Child.
Speaker:Gabriel brought the wonderful news of the birth of the Messiah to a virgin named Mary, saying:
CONGREGATION: “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33
Speaker: An angel also prepared Mary’s fiancé Joseph for the news of her pregnancy, so that Joseph would believe that the child was a sign of the fulfillment of God’s glorious promise, not a sign of Mary’s unfaithfulness: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21
Speaker: A “multitude of the heavenly hosts” celebrated the birth of Christ as they shared the news with the humble shepherds.
CONGREGATION: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14
Speaker: Let’s pray.
{Prayer.}
Christmas Eve/Day—The Christ Candle
Speaker: {Light all five candles.}
{While candles are being lit…speaker says…}
Speaker: What does this last candle symbolize?
Speaker: The fifth candle is the Christ candle. We light this candle to show that the waiting is over! Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has been born!
Speaker: 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. Isaiah 9: 2, KJV
Speaker: The Promise was given.
Speaker: 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. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9: 6-7, KJV
Speaker: And the Child was born.
Congregation: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11, KJV
All: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-14, NASB