The head of household or leader says the following prayer.
May this light remind us of Jesus who is the true Light of world. Let us call upon him whose coming we await, for he is: God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. Amen.
The youngest child then lights the candle opposite the rose candle; it remains lighted during the meal. The same candle is burned each day of the 1st week.
Suggest reading: Luke 21: 25-28,34-36.
The Coming of the Son of Man
LUKE 21:25 Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
34 "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Thanks be to God.
The 2nd Week of Advent
The head of household or leader says the following prayer.
Father, help us to prepare the way of Jesus, the Light of the world. May we who believe he will come again always serve you. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Amen.
Suggested reading: Luke 3: 1-6
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
LUKE 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ "
Thanks be to God.
The 3rd Week of Advent
The head of household or leader says the following prayer.
Lord, we ask you to penetrate the darkness of our minds so that, filled with your brightness, we may rejoice in your coming as we say: Blessed be God for ever. Amen.The mother (or grandmother) lights the previous candles and the rose candle; they remain lit during the meal. The same candles are burned each day of the 3rd week.
Suggested reading: Luke 3: 10-18
LUKE 3: 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Thanks be to God.
The 4th Week of Advent
The head of household or leader says the following prayer.
Lord, hurry and come to us. May your light shine in our lives, so that we may be freed from sin. Protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for your coming as our savior: For the kingdom, the power and glory are yours now and forever. Amen.The father (or grandfather or head of household) lights all four candles; they remain lit during the meal.
Suggested reading: Luke 1: 39-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth
LUKE 1: 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
Thanks be to God.
