The First Week of Advent

Transcription

1 Family Advent Prayers - Preparing the Manger Scene This simple ritual focuses on preparing the manger scene as we move through the Advent season. Mary will be placed in the stable on the first Sunday, Joseph on the second, the donkey on the third, the shepherd and animals on the fourth. Jesus will be placed in the manger on Christmas Eve. In advance, decide who will be responsible for adding each figure, and choose the leader and readers for each Sunday. Blessing the Advent Wreath To prepare: In your family prayer space, place the following: an Advent wreath with 3 purple candles and 1 pink, the empty stable and the figure of Mary. Have a small bottle of holy water ready. Give readers a chance to look over their parts, and gather the family, helping them to quiet themselves and focus for prayer as you lower the lights. Leader: This week we begin the season of Advent, when the days grow short and darkness closes in. We are preparing to celebrate at Christmas the birth of Jesus, who is the Light of the World. Let us begin: (Make the Sign of the Cross). Lord God, bless this wreath and bless us as well. As you sprinkle holy water: May this wreath remind us of the hope and joy that Jesus brings to the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Reader: A reading from Paul s letter to the Philippians: (Philippians 4:4-7) Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition and with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The Word of the Lord. Say the Lord s Prayer and continue with the Prayer for the First Week of Advent. The First Week of Advent To prepare: Gather at the Advent wreath, empty stable, and figure of Mary. As the lights are dimmed, quiet and get ready to pray. Light the first (purple) candle on the Advent Wreath. All: Lord, we gather with the people who waited one thousand years for your

2 Reader 1: A reading from the gospel according to Luke: (Lk 1:26-38) God sent the angel Gabriel to a town of Galilee named Nazareth. He had a message for a girl promised in marriage to Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. The girl s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said: Reader 2: Peace be with you. The Lord is with you and has greatly blessed you. Reader 1: Mary was puzzled by the angel s message and wondered what it meant. The angel said to her: Reader 2: Don t 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 the Son of the Most high God. Reader 1: When Mary asked the angel how this could be, he said: Reader 2: The Holy Spirit will come upon you and God s power will rest with you. For this reason, the child will be called the Son of God. Reader 1: Mary said, I am the Lord s servant. May it happen of me as you have said. The appointed child places the figure of Mary in the stable. Leader: Mary, teach us how to wait patiently, to work prayerfully, and never to give up hope. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son. The Second Sunday of Advent To prepare: Put out the figure of Joseph, and gather at the Advent wreath and Manger. As you lower the lights, quiet for prayer and light two purple candles on the Advent wreath. All: Lord, we gather with the people who waited two thousand years for your Reader 1: A reading from the gospel according to Matthew. (Mt 1:18-21) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a man who always did what was right, but he did not want to disgrace Mary publically. So he made plans to break the engagement privately. Just when he had decided to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: Reader 2: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife, for it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. She will have a son and will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

3 The appointed child puts the figure of Joseph in the stable. Leader: Loving God, Joseph trusted you when everyone else doubted. Help us to have faith in you, even when things are dark and we are afraid. We ask this in the name of Jesus our brother, whose coming we prepare to celebrate. The Third Sunday of Advent To prepare: Put out the figure of the donkey, gather at the Advent wreath and manger. As you lower the lights, quiet for prayer and light and light two purple and the one pink Advent candle on the Advent wreath. All: Lord, we gather with the people who waited three thousand years for your Reader 1: A reading from the gospel of Luke: (Lk 2:1-5) At that time, the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. Everyone, then, went to register, each to his own home town. Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. He went to register with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage. The appointed child places the donkey in the manger. Leader: Powerful God, you give us the strength we need for all the journeys in our lives. You give us people to help us, just as the donkey helped Mary and Joseph. Let us always be grateful for those who guide our lives. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus. The Fourth Sunday of Advent To prepare: Put out the shepherds and the sheep, along with the Advent wreath. As you lower the lights, quiet for prayer. Light all four candles on the Advent wreath. All: Lord, we gather with the people who waited four thousand years for your Reader 1: A reading from the gospel according to Luke: (Lk 2:6 12) While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her first son, wrapped in cloths, and laid him in a manger. There was no room for them to stay in the inn.

4 Reader 2: There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them: Reader 3: Do not be afraid. I am here with good news for you which will bring great joy to all of the people. This very day in David s town, your Savior was born, Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Each family member adds a shepherd, lamb, or other animal to the manger. Leader: Caring God, help us to be open to you in our lives. Slow us down so that we will not miss you when you come. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son. On Christmas Eve To prepare: Place a single white candle in the middle of the Advent wreath. Give a candle to each person present and gather at the manger scene. Put out the infant Jesus figure. Have a candle snuffer ready. As you lower the lights, quiet and get ready for prayer. Light all four candles on the Advent Wreath. All: Lord, we gather with the people who no longer wait because you have come! Reader: A reading from the gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:15-16, 20) Now, when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened that God made known to us. So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger.. And the shepherds returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God. Leader: This is the gospel of the Lord At these words, the appointed child places the baby in the manger. Light each person s candle from one of the Advent candles. Next all gathered light the single white candle from their candles, and the four Advent candles are snuffed. Leader: Jesus, we carry your light in our hearts! All: Amen!

5