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Editor’s Note: Sunday, November 28, 2021, began the Season of Advent for the Christian Church. This is the beginning of the church year, so Happy New Year to the church!
This Advent Devotion is part of a handout available to interested customers at our Shining Light Crafts Booth at Holiday Festivals. This is just one suggestion. We all prepare for Christmas in our own ways. It is always a joy to hear how others prepare for Christmas!
Advent Devotions
An Advent Wreath is usually made up of an evergreen circle, representing God’s everlasting love. Four candles are spread out on the wreath in a circle, representing the four weeks of Advent. Traditionally three candles are purple, representing Christ’s royalty, and one candle is pink for the week celebrating Joy.
In the center is a white candle, the Christ Candle, representing our Lord’s birth and purity. This fifth candle can be lit Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Scripture for the Christ Candle lighting can be the Scripture announcing His birth.
One suggestion for Advent Devotions:
Each day (or once a week), read the Scripture for the week while lighting the candle(s) for that week. Our family would also sing Christmas Carols and have a prayer time after the candle(s) were lit. Or we can just take a quiet time after the candle(s) are lit to open our hearts to what God has for us in our time of thinking about the Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace the candles represent.
For all of us, may the Lord richly bless our time during this Christmas season!
Week 1: Candle of Hope with Scripture
Week 2: Candles of Hope and Love with Scriptures
Week 3: Candles of Hope, Love, and Joy with Scriptures
Week 4: Candles of Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace with Scriptures
Scriptures for Advent
Week 1: Candle of Hope: Isaiah 9:2,6
2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
6For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Week 2: Candle of Love: John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Week 3: Candle of Joy: Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Week 4: Candle of Peace: Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Birth of Jesus can be found in the Bible in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2:1-20.
Start with a darkened room and watch how the room gets brighter as the weeks go on with more candles being lit as we await the Christ Child who is the light of the world!
Advent Christmas Carol: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, Oh Israel!
O come, Desire of nations,bind
In one the hearts of all man-kind
Bid thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thy-self our King of Peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, Oh Israel!
Christmas Carols
Joy to the World!
Joy to the World!
The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child,
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherd quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.