Advent

Advent is a season celebrated by Christian traditions around the world that marks a time of preparation, anticipation and celebration. We prepare for and anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ while we celebrate and commemorate His First Advent. So this season  is not just about the Nativity, it also looks forward to the Return of King Jesus. 

Historically Advent has been observed by Christians from a more liturgical background (Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans), but in recent years there has been increased acknowledgement and observance by Protestants and Evangelicals. 

Advent begins on the Fourth Sunday before Christmas and marks the beginning of the year on the Liturgical Calendar (a Christian Calendar organized around events in the life of Christ). Traditionally Purple has been the color of Advent, representing penance (Evangelicals would say repentance), preparation and royalty.  In recent years many have begun using Blue to help differentiate Advent from Lent. Blue represents hope, anticipation and royalty. Thus Advent is more oriented towards Hope while Lent is more somber and focused on repentance.  

Advent is celebrated with times of prayer and Scripture reading. Advent Wreaths and Candles are also used. The Advent Wreath is often circular and uses an evergreen branch or branches. The candles are arranged within the wreath. Most often four candles are used, three purple and one rose (pink), but many add a white candle to represent Christ.

Week 1 - Hope / Prophecy Candle - Purple

Week 2 - Peace /Bethlehem Candle - Purple

Week 3 - Joy / Shephard’s Candle - Rose (Pink) 

Week 4 - Love / Angel’s - Purple 

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day - Christ Candle - White

On the first Sunday of Advent you light only the Hope Candle. On the Second Sunday of Advent you light both the Hope and the Peace Candle. By Week 4 your are lighting all four candles. The White Christ Candle is only burned on Christmas Eve / Christmas Day.  

1st Sunday / Hope / Prophecy Candle

The first Advent candle, often called the Hope Candle or the Prophecy Candle, represents the hope and expectation for return of Christ, as foretold by Scripture. 

Sunday Morning 

Isaiah 2:1-5 (Second Coming)

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 

  It shall come to pass in the latter days 

   that the mountain of the house of the Lord 

shall be established as the highest of the mountains, 

   and shall be lifted up above the hills; 

and all the nations shall flow to it, 

  and many peoples shall come, and say: 

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 

   to the house of the God of Jacob, 

that he may teach us his ways 

   and that we may walk in his paths.” 

For out of Zion shall go forth the law, 

   and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

  He shall judge between the nations, 

   and shall decide disputes for many peoples; 

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, 

   and their spears into pruning hooks; 

nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 

   neither shall they learn war anymore. 

  O house of Jacob, 

   come, let us walk 

   in the light of the Lord.

Sunday Evening

Psalm 33:18 (Hope)

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, 

   on those who hope in his steadfast love. 

Monday Morning

Romans 13:11-14 (Second Coming)

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Monday Evening

Psalm 146:5 (Hope)

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,ice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Tuesday Morning

Zecharaiah 14:4 (Second Coming)

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.

Tuesday Evening

Titus 2:11-14 (Hope)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Wednesday Morning

Acts 1:11 (Second Coming)

Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Wednesday Evening

Psalm 71:5 (Hope)

For you, O Lord, are my hope, 

my trust, O LORD, from my youth.

Psalm 71:14 (Hope)

But I will hope continually 

and will praise you yet more and more.

Thursday Morning

John 14:1-3 (Second Coming)

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Thursday Evening

1 Peter 1:3-5 (Hope)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,  who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Friday Morning

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (Second Coming)

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Friday Evening 

Jeremiah 17:7 (Hope)

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Micah 7:7 (Hope)

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. (NIV)

Saturday Morning

Luke 21:27 (Second Coming)

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

Revelation 1:7 (Second Coming)

Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.

Saturday Evening

1 Peter 1:13 (Hope / Second Coming)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

2nd Sunday / Peace / Bethlehem Candle

The second Advent candle, often called the Peace Candle or the Bethlehem Candle, represents Peace, Faith, and preparing the way for the Lord’s coming. 

Sunday Morning

Isaiah 40:3-5 (Second Coming)

A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; 

   make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

Every valley shall be lifted up, 

   and every mountain and hill be made low; 

the uneven ground shall become level, 

   and the rough places a plain. 

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, 

   and all flesh shall see it together, 

   for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Sunday Evening 

Luke 2:14 (Peace)

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

John 14:27 (Peace)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Monday Morning 

Mark 13:35-37 (Second Coming)

Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.

Monday Evening

Isaiah 55:12 (Peace)

For you shall go out in joy  

   and be led forth in peace;  

the mountains and the hills before you  

   shall break forth into singing,

   and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Romans 12:18 (Peace)

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Tuesday Morning

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 (Second Coming)

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Tuesday Evening

Psalm 29:11 

May the LORD give strength to his people!  

   May the LORD bless his people with peace! 

Philippians 4:7 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Wednesday Morning

Matthew 24:29-31 (Second Coming)

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Wednesday Evening

1 Corinthians 14:33 

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Thursday Morning

Revelation 3:11 (Second Coming)

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Mark 13:32 (Second Coming)

But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Thursday Evening

John 13:33 (Peace)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Friday Morning

Philippians 3:20-21 (Second Coming)

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Friday Evening

2 Corinthians 14:33 (Peace)

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Isaiah 26:3 (Peace)

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.

Saturday Morning

Revelation 11:15-17 (Second Coming)

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 

  “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” 

And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: 

  “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”

Saturday Evening

Isaiah 9:6 (Peace)

For to us a child is born, 

   to us a son is given; 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

   and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace 

   there will be no end, 

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

   to establish it and to uphold it 

with justice and with righteousness 

   from this time forth and forevermore. 

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Third Sunday / Joy / Shephard’s Candle

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday - Gaudete is Latin for rejoice. The third Advent candle is called the Candle of Joy of the Shepherd’s Candle and it represents gladness of the shepherds at the first coming and rejoicing at the approaching salvation at Christ’s second coming. 

Gaudete Sunday Morning

Isaiah 7:14 (First Advent)

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Gaudete Sunday Evening (Joy)

Luke 2:10-11 (Joy)

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Monday Morning

Genesis 49:10 (First Advent)

The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until tribute comes to him;

and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Monday Evening

Psalm 71:23 (Joy)

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Tuesday Morning 

2 Samuel 7:12-13 (First Advent)

I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Tuesday Evening

John 16:22 (Joy)

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Wednesday Morning 

Micah 5:2 (First Advent)

Bethlehem Ephrathah,

you are small among the clans of Judah;

one will come from you

to be ruler over Israel for me.

His origin is from antiquity,

from ancient times. (CSB)

Wednesday Evening 

Philippians 4:4 (Joy)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (Joy)

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thursday Morning

Genesis 3:15 (Both Advents)

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.

Thursday Evening

James 1:2-3 (Joy)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

3 John 1:4 (Joy)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Friday Morning 

Luke 1:13-17 (First Advent)

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Friday Evening

1 Chronicles 16:8-10 (Joy / Rejoice)

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;  

   make known his deeds among the peoples!  

Sing to him, sing praises to him; 

   tell of all his wondrous works!  

Glory in his holy name;  

   let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Saturday Morning

Genesis 12:1-3 (Both Advents)

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Saturday Evening
Hebrews 12:1-2 (Joy)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Fourth Sunday / Love / Love Candle / Angel Candle

This Fourth and Final Sunday before Christmas focuses on Love. Scripture readings focus on Mary, Elizabeth and Joseph and the Angel Candle committed the Angels' message to the shepherds.

Sunday Morning 

Luke 1:24-25

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,

“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

1 John 4:16b (Love)

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (Love)

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Monday Morning

Isaiah 11:1-5 (Both Advents)

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

   and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

   the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

   the Spirit of counsel and might,

   the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

   or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

   and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

   and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

   and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Monday Evening

John 13:34-35 (Love)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Tuesday Morning

John 1:14 (First Advent)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Tuesday Evening

1 Corinthians 16:14 (Love)

Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Peter 4:8 (Love)

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Wednesday Morning

Luke 1:46-56 (First Advent)

And Mary said,    

“My soul magnifies the Lord,  

   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.  

   For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;  

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,  

   and holy is his name.  

And his mercy is for those who fear him  

   from generation to generation.  

He has shown strength with his arm;  

   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;  

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones  

   and exalted those of humble estate;  

he has filled the hungry with good things,  

   and the rich he has sent away empty.  

He has helped his servant Israel,  

   in remembrance of his mercy, 

as he spoke to our fathers,  

   to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Wednesday Evening 

Matthew 5:43-48 (Love)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Thursday Morning 

Isaiah 9:6-7 (First Advent) 

For to us a child is born,  

   to us a son is given;  

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,  

   and his name shall be called  

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  

Of the increase of his government and of peace  

   there will be no end,  

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,  

   to establish it and to uphold it  

with justice and with righteousness  

   from this time forth and forevermore.  

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Thursday Evening 

John 3:16 (Love)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 15:13 (love)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 

Friday Morning 

Isaiah 7:14 (First Advent)

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Friday Evening 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Love)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Saturday Morning 

Luke 2:1-20 (First Advent)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. The Shepherds and the Angels 

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Saturday Evening 

Colossians 3:14 (Love)

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

1 John 4:7-8 (Love)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.