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An Advent wreath has four candles (usually three purple ones and a pink one that is lit on the third Sunday) in a circle and a taller, white candle, the Christ candle, in the middle. You can buy an Advent wreath or make your own.

Use these devotions with your family or ask your Sunday-school teacher or pastor about using them in your church.

First Sunday of Advent

Light the first candle

One: Today we begin our Advent journey, a time of listening and waiting.

All: We listen to God, and we wait for the coming of Jesus into our lives again.

One: As we wait, hear this promise from the prophet Isaiah:

Reader: Read Isaiah 2:1-5.

One: Isaiah spoke of a day when all people will go to the mountain of the Lord.

All: There, God will teach us how to live.

One: God will decide what is right.

All: And we will see God’s promises come true.

Prayer: God of promise, help us to wait for the fulfilling of your promise in the coming of Jesus. Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent

Light the candle from last week and the second candle.

One: Our Advent journey of listening and waiting continues.

All: We listen to God, and we wait for the coming of Jesus into our lives again.

One: As we wait, hear this promise from the prophet Isaiah:

Reader: Read Isaiah 11: 1-10.

One: Isaiah promised that someone was coming, someone upon whom the spirit of the Lord would rest.

All: Someone who would be wise and see that all people are treated fairly.

One: Someone who would establish a kingdom where all of God’s creatures would live together in peace.

All: In that kingdom, no one will hurt or destroy anything and everyone will know God.

Prayer: God of peace, teach us to live in peace in our homes, in our schools and jobs, in our community, and in our world. Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent:

Light the first two candles and the third candle.

One: Our Advent journey of listening and waiting continues.

All: We listen to God, and we wait for the coming of Jesus into our lives again.

One: As we wait, hear these words from the prophet Isaiah.

Reader: Read Isaiah 35:1-10.

One: Isaiah talks about a time when the desert will bloom and people will sing with joy.

All: The blind will see, and the lame will leap and dance.

One: There will be a highway for God’s people to travel on, a place where no dangers wait.

All: It will be a place of joy.

Prayer: God of joy, how wonderful your promises are! Help us to wait with patience, always trusting in you. Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Light all of the candles on the outside of the wreath.

One: Our Advent journey of listening and waiting continues.

All: We listen to God, and we wait for the coming of Jesus into our lives again.

One: As we wait, hear these words from Matthew’s Gospel.

Reader: Read Matthew 1:18-25.

One: God promised the people a Savior.

All: God worked through Mary and Joseph to make that promise come true.

One: Mary and Joseph must have been very special people.

All: Yes, they were special people because they listened to God.

One: But they were also ordinary people, just like us.

All: Like Mary and Joseph, we can listen to God and do what God wants us to do.

Prayer: God of ordinary people, help us to listen to you and to be willing to do what you want us to do, even when it is hard. Amen.

Christmas Day

Light all of the candles on the outside of the wreath and the Christ candle in the middle.

One: Our waiting is over!

All: This is the day we have been waiting for, the day of our Savior’s birth!

One: Let’s hear the story.

Reader: Read Luke 2:1-14.

One: Today we celebrate because God’s promise of a Savior came true in the birth of a baby named Jesus.

All: Jesus is God’s gift to us, the best gift ever!

One: Better than anything we could ever ask for or imagine!

All: Thanks be to God!

Prayer: God of Christmas, thank you for giving us the gift of Jesus. May we thank you each day by the way we live our lives. Amen.

Note: The Christmas season continues until Epiphany, January 6. Keep your Advent wreath out until then.

Epiphany (January 6)

Light all of the candles.

One: We have journeyed through Advent and Christmas.

All: We have listened to God, and we have seen God’s promise of a Savior come true.

One: Now let’s hear about another journey.

Reader: Read Matthew 2:1-12.

One: The wise men brought gifts to Jesus.

All: We want to give gifts to Jesus. What gifts can we give?

One: We can give the gift of being honest in our work, at school, and at home.

All: We can give the gift of being kind to a classmate who is left out or a neighbor who is lonely.

One: We can give the gift of trying to live in peace with one another.

All: We can give the gift of taking care of God’s wonderful creation.

One: We can give the gift of sharing with those who don’t have all the things they need.

All: We can give the gift of listening to God.

One: We can give the gift of trying to live each day as Jesus would want us to live.

Prayer: God of light, help us to remember the gifts that we have to give Jesus and help us to give those gifts each day. Amen.