Advent: Week 1 — Dec. 2

The following Advent wreath prayer is intended to help busy households make Advent, which begins Dec. 2, a prayerful time during the rush of Christmas preparations. The language is fairly simple and can be used by groups of adults or adults with children. Options are noted to allow for participation by a variety of household members.

Leader: Today begins a special time of year for us. This week we begin the season of Advent — that period of waiting and preparation before Christmas. In order to help each of us prepare our own hearts for the birth of Christ, we take these few moments each week to pray together.

• Light the first candle on the Advent wreath.

• (optional) Read aloud Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 – 4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36.

Leader: When people talked about us, wouldn’t it be great if they said they always saw us as people who are just full of hope? The Bible passages the Church has chosen for this First Sunday of Advent point out two things that should fill us with hope — first, that God has promised he will care for us, and second, that if we follow his ways, we can cope with even the most frightful events of life.

As we begin the season of Advent, the prophet Jeremiah sets the stage for hope, reminding us that God won’t forget his people. In the second reading and in the Gospel, evangelists Paul and Luke both suggest that now is a good time to be on our best behavior. Can we go this next week being “blameless in holiness before our God and Father?” The time to start living the right way is right now — this Advent — today.

Closing prayer:

Leader may read all, or others in the household may each read a segment.

• Dear God, help us to remain hopeful and to trust in you no matter the trials and troubles life brings. This first week of Advent, help us remember that we are your people and that you are our God. Help us get our priorities straight and put the most important things first — loving God and loving our neighbor.

• Holy Spirit, guide the choices we make throughout this week so that we choose to do what honors our creator and what shows our love of others.

• Father in heaven, we offer thanks to you for the many gifts and talents you have given to all the people on the earth, to our family and friends, to the neighbors we know and the neighbors we have yet to befriend.

• Come, Lord Jesus. Come into our hearts, so that when the time comes, we will be prepared to join you in everlasting joy.