First Spiritual Temple A Christian Spiritualist Church

Transcription

1 First Spiritual Temple A Christian Spiritualist Church A Guide For Advent Advent Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season and falls on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Like the great Lenten season, Advent is intended to help us prepare for something; in this case, the birth of Jesus, the living Christ. So many people complain about the commercial aspects of the holiday season, and rightly so. However, how many of us actually take the time to prepare, internally, for this wondrous celebration? If Christmas is to become more than mad-rush holiday shopping and gift-giving, then we must each make it more, by sharing in our particular Church s holiday activities, and by anxiously anticipating Christ s birth, throughout the Advent season. The event happened 2,000 years ago, but it should continue to live, in our hearts and souls, today. That s what Advent is all about: Preparing, with joy and anticipation, the birth of a Messiah; a prince of peace; a son of God; a prophet of wisdom and light; the Christ. In order to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ, we should all share in the lighting of an Advent wreath. The ceremony is simple, and it is done every evening of Advent, shortly after nightfall. In addition to the Advent wreath, itself, four candles (traditionally, three purple and one pink; or three blue and one white) are required. Candles can be refreshed as needed. The candles are set up in a circular fashion, with some evergreens placed in the center or around the periphery. Commercial Advent wreaths are usually available at most religious goods stores. Some families prefer to conduct a responsive-type service during the Advent season. If you live alone, then you can read the whole ceremony yourself.

2 For the yearly blessing of the Advent wreath, given before lighting it for the first time each season (Advent Sunday), the following prayer is suggested: Oh God, by Whose Word all things are sanctified, pour forth Your blessing upon this Advent wreath. Grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from You abundant grace. Some people prefer to offer this blessing without lighting the wreath on the Saturday evening before Advent Sunday. The Advent wreath should be lit every evening during Advent. One candle is added each week, beginning on Sunday. Traditionally, during the first two weeks of Advent, the candles are lit by a child, if present. The following prayers are recited during Advent, just prior to lighting the candle(s): First Week: Oh Lord, stir up Your might, we pray, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from sin and saved by Your forgiveness. Second Week: Oh Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Christ; that through his advent we may be made more whole, in order to serve You with pure mind and heart. Third Week: The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday and is represented by the pink or white candle, reflecting the joy of the coming Christ. In families, it is the female head of household who lights the candles during the third week, after reciting the following prayer: Oh Lord, we pray that You incline Your ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Your Light, through the advent of Christ. Fourth Week: In families, the male head of household lights the candles during the fourth week of Advent, after reciting the following prayer: Oh Lord, stir up Your power, we pray, and come. With Your great might, help us. With Your loving grace, may Your merciful forgiveness hasten that which sin impedes. For those who prefer a responsive-type service during the Advent season: First Week: Leader: God is our Faith and our Life. All: May God s peace be with us. Leader: And His love and grace shine in our hearts.

3 All: Our hope is made manifest in the Advent of Christ. The first candle is lit. Leader: Let us pray, that our faith may be strengthened during this Advent season. Leader: Oh beloved God, our hearts desire the warmth of Your love, and our minds are searching for the light of Your Word. Increase our anticipation of Christ and give us the strength to grow in our faith, so that the day of his Advent may find us prepared and filled with joy. Second Week: Leader: May God s peace be with us. All: God is our Faith and our Life. Leader: May His love and grace shine in our hearts. All: Our hope is made manifest in the Advent of Christ. Two candles are lit. Leader: Let us pray, that we may experience fully the peace of Christ. Leader: Oh God, the day draws near when the birth of our brother, Jesus Christ, will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May his Advent fill us with true inner peace. Third Week: Leader: May God s love shine in our hearts. All: And may His peace be with us. Leader: God is our Faith and our Life.

4 All: Our hope is made manifest in the Advent of Christ. Three candles are lit. Leader: Let us pray, that we may grow in love for each other as Christ approaches into our lives. Leader: Oh God, may we, Your children, who look forward to the birth of Christ, our brother, experience the joy of Your love and celebrate his birth with a new sense of love for each other. Fourth Week: Leader: Our hope is made manifest in the Advent of Christ. All: May his love shine in our hearts. Leader: And may God s peace be with us. All: God is our Faith and our Life. Four candles are lit. Leader: Let us pray, that Christ will bring us greater understanding of God s light and love. Leader: Oh God, our minds and hearts are filled with hope. We long to hear the voice which tells us of the Advent of Jesus Christ. On Christmas Day, all candles are removed and replaced with fresh white ones. First Spiritual Temple A Christian Spiritualist Church 16 Monmouth Street Brookline, MA (617) Web Site: - Sunday Worship at 11:00 AM. -

5 Scripture Readings for Advent Traditionally, Scripture readings for Advent are the Annunciations of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25) and Mary s visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56). They should be read several times. We suggest reading the following verses from the Gospel of Luke each Sunday of Advent, just prior to the Advent wreath lighting ceremony: Advent Sunday: Annunciation to Zacharias. Luke 1:5-25. Second Sunday of Advent: Annunciation to Mary. Luke 1: Third Sunday of Advent: Mary s visit to Elizabeth; The Magnificat; The Birth of John the Baptist. Luke 1: Fourth Sunday of Advent: Zacharias s prophecy. Luke 1: Christmas Day: The birth of Jesus Christ. Luke 2:1-20.