Last night our small group held our annual Christmas party. Given that we are still in Advent, I used the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) to develop a candle lighting service for our group. You can do the same for your family for various occasions.
Since it was an evening service, I started by using the Order of Worship for the Evening (p. 108). Then using the flexibility that the rubrics allow to design a service, I added Scripture from the Daily Lectionary in the BCP, and the four Collects for Advent (pp. 211-12) to respectively precede and proceed the lighting of each candle. I simply assigned different tasks to different group members. You can do likewise with your family.
Below is the actual service. It was designed for the fourth Sunday of Advent but you can use it for any of the four Sundays of Advent. Simply stop after the appropriate week and then add a candle each week till Christmas Eve.
If you are interested in creating your own service but would like some help, email me and I’ll be glad to walk you through it. The key is to read the rubrics and keep within their parameters as you add appropriate elements to your service.
Enjoy.
Advent Service
Opening Sentences
Leader: Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them (Luke 11.35-37).
Leader: Light and Peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Scripture (Assign a person)
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5.14-16)
Leader: Let us pray. Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Gracious Light Phos hilaron
Leader: O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
Light the First Candle (assign a person)
Leader: Let us pray. Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture (assign a person)
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (Isaiah 7.10-14). The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Light the Second Candle (assign a person)
Leader: Let us pray. Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture (assign a person)
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For 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. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9.2-7). The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Light the Third Candle (assign a person)
Leader: Let us pray. Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture The Magnificat (assign a person)
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1.46-55). The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Light the Fourth Candle (assign a person)
Leader: Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you
All: And also with you.
Exchange the Peace
The Lord’s Prayer
Leader: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray the prayer our Savior Christ has taught us.
All pray The Lord’s Prayer.
The Blessing
Leader: The Lord bless us and keep us.
All: Amen.
Leader: The Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us.
All: Amen.
Leader: The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace.
All: Amen.
Leader: Let us bless the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
When I was growing up, we had the Advent wreath on the dinner table. We lit it every evening at supper. Instead of a regular prayer of grace, we read the collect from that Sunday in Advent, changing each week as we went through Advent. Consequently, I came to know those collects very well. Every year now, when I hear them read in church, the words are beautiful, being so familiar.
This past Sunday while listening to the collect being read, the Holy Spirit nudged me that for next year for the youth lessons during the 4 weeks of Advent, I was to base them on the collect for that Sunday.