1st Week of Advent
1st Week of Advent
Introduction
Today, we gather together to celebrate the first week of the Advent Season. The word, “Advent” means “coming”. During this season, we prepare ourselves to welcome Jesus when He comes. Of course, He does not come just once a year. He comes when we are in trouble, when we rejoice, when we pray, when we celebrate, when we love one another in His name. We take this time every year to practice being ready—so that we can receive Jesus every day of our lives.
Sign of the Cross
Opening Prayer
READER 1:
God our Father, you created us to be with you forever, and sent your Son Jesus to lead us to eternal life. We ask you now to help us pray with one heart and one mind as we begin this Advent season. We make this prayer to you through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lighting of Advent Wreath
Light first candle of wreath.
READER 2:
Today we light the first candle on our wreath, a light in the darkness, to remind us of the hope of all people for our Saviour who provides light for us in the darkness of our world.
ALL:
O God, bless our Advent wreath and be with us as we prepare for the coming of your Son, Jesus, Our Saviour. As light comes from this candle, may the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us, warming our hearts and brightening our way. May Christ our Saviour bring life into the darkness of this world, and to us, as we wait for His coming.
Advent Prayers With Responses
READER 3: As our autumn days shorten and winter’s darkness takes hold we look to you, O Radiant Light, to guide our steps along the way..
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
READER 4: As summer’s green fades, leaving our horizons pale and gray we look to you, Emmanuel, hope of all God’s people.
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
READER 5: In a world where unity and respect are ruptured by human greed and violence, we look to you, Prince of Peace, to restore in us the peace and harmony of your Kingdom.
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus.
Gospel Reading
READER 6: A reading from the Gospel of Luke:
God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee named Nazareth. He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Peace be with you! The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you!”
Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s message, and she wondered what his words meant. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and his kingdom will never end.”
Mary said to the angel, “I am not yet married, how can this be?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come over you, and God’s power will rest upon you. For this reason, the holy child will be called the Son of God.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary; “may it be done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
The word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
Prayer of the Faithful
READER 7:
Let us present our prayers to God the Father as we prepare to meet Jesus.
Let us pray for peace in the world. That all Christians and people of good will might become peace-makers in their actions and words, so that every one living where there is war and fighting will know the peace of Christ’s coming. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
Let us pray for the Church. That in this time of waiting, all Christians will grow in faith, love and unity. We pray to the Lord…
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
Let us pray for the people in our community who are sick and lonely. That they might find hope and comfort as we reach out to them this Advent and Christmas. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
Let us pray for all of our parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, friends and relatives. May the coming of Jesus bring them peace, good health and safety always. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
Let us pray for all of us, that the Holy Spirit may fill our hearts with love, that we may welcome Jesus in everyone with compassion and kindness. We pray to the Lord...
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
Let us stop for a moment to bring our own private intentions before God in the quiet of our hearts. We pray to the Lord…
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER
Closing Prayer
READER 8:
Lord, God, you show us the tenderness of your love in Mary’s newborn Son. Like Mary, may we always be ready to say “yes” to your plan, so that Jesus may be born in us. We ask you to prepare our hearts to welcome him, so that like the angels who announced his birth, we too might greet his coming with joy. We ask you this through this same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sign of Peace
READER 9: As a sign of our desire for oneness in the Lord, let us wish each other peace.
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