Advent Prayer Service High School

ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Advent season is a time to focus on the visit or coming of Christ. Advent not only focuses on
Christ’s birth–His first coming–but also on Christ’s second coming, which is yet to come. Advent is
a season of waiting, expectation, anticipation and longing for Christ’s coming.
 Song while lighting the candle

 Reading of the symbol.
1st CANDLE – (Purple)

THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF HOPE
We light this candle, a small dim light against a world that often seems forbidding and dark.
But we light it because we are a people of hope, a people whose faith is marked by an
expectation that we should always be ready for the coming of the Master. We can have hope
because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God!
 Scripture Reading (Mark 13:33-37)
A reading from the Gospel of Mark
Jesus said to his disciples, "Be alert and watch, for you don't know when the time will
come. When a man goes abroad and leaves his home, he puts his servants in charge,
giving to each one some responsibility; and he orders the doorkeeper to stay awake. So
stay awake, for you don't know when the Lord of the house will come, in the evening or
at midnight, when the cock crows or before dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him
catch you asleep.
"And what I say to you, I say to all: watch."
The Gospel of the Lord
 Reflection
 Closing Prayer
Lord, our God, we praise you for Your Son, Jesus Christ, for He is Emmanuel, the Hope of
all people. He is the Wisdom that teaches and guides us. He is the Savior of us all. Jesus, you are
light even in the darkest places. Help us to trust in you when we are lost or lonely. Shine hope into
our hearts we pray. Amen.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Today we light two candles for the second week of Advent. Again, they symbolize our longing,
our desire, and our hope. Remember the three "advents" or "comings"? We want to recall that
Jesus came in the past to save us from our sin and death. We want to experience his coming to us
now, in our everyday lives. And we want to prepare for his coming to meet us at the end of our
lives on this earth.
2nd CANDLE – (Purple)

THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION
The second candle, lit on the second Sunday of advent along with the first candle, is the
Bethlehem candle, reminding us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We light this candle
because, like God’s people centuries ago, we also need a Savior who will forgive our sins. The
purple color reminds us of the seriousness of our sin and our great need for God’s forgiveness.
 Scripture Reading (Mark 1:1-8)
A reading from the Gospel of Mark
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you
to prepare your way before you.
A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths
straight.
John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins.
All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were
baptized by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.
John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey.
In the course of his preaching he said, 'after me is coming someone who is more
powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'
 Reflection
 Closing Prayer
Christ, the light of all who love you, helps us to make ready for your birthday by
preparing room for you in our hearts. Let no selfishness of ours darken our homes. Draw us
closer together by sowing us the way to love you and others. We ask these in your Holy
name. Amen.
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
The Third candle, lit on the third Sunday of advent with the first two is the Shepherd’s candle. We
are reminded that God sent the angels to proclaim His arrival to common man and that he still uses
ordinary people today to spread the good news of Christ. This candle is pink or rose and
represents God’s love and faithfulness.

3rd CANDLE – (Pink)

THE SHEPHERD’S CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF JOY
The third Sunday of Advent is rose (pink) because pink symbolizes joy, the joy that Jesus is almost
here. When parents get ready to bring a new baby home, they typically paint the baby’s room pink
or blue. They do this out of joy for to baby’s arrival. In the same way, the priest wears pink and we
light a pink candle to represent the joy we feel to welcome Jesus in Christmas.
We prepare this week by feeling the joy. We move through this week feeling a part of the waiting
world that rejoices because our longing as prepared us to believe the reign of God is close at hand.
 Scripture Reading (John 1:6-8, 19-28)
A reading from the Gospel of John
A man came, sent by God;

his name was John.
He came to bear witness,
as a witness to introduce the Light
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light
but a witness to introduce the Light.
This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, "Who
are you?" John recognized the truth and did not deny it. He said, "I am not the Messiah."
And they asked him, "Then who are you? Elijah?" He answered, "I am not." They said,
"Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Tell us who you
are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?"
And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, "I am the voice crying out in the wilderness:
Make straight the way of the Lord."
Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question to John: "Then
why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?" John
answered, "I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know;
although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal."
This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
 Reflection
 Closing Prayer
Loving God, We give you thanks for the blessings of this holy Advent season. You
are the source of life, of hope, and of all good things. We look forward to the coming of the
light of Christ at Christmas. Help us to turn toward that light in our lives. We rejoice at the
gift of your Son who taught us to love in your name. May we be people of peace and justice
all the days of our lives. Your kingdom come and your will be done now and forever. Amen.

Advent Prayer Service High School

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ADVENT PRAYER SERVICE

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 Song while lighting the candle

1st CANDLE – (Purple)

 Scripture Reading (Mark 13:33-37)

A reading from the Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of the Lord

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

2nd CANDLE – (Purple)

 Scripture Reading (Mark 1:1-8)

A reading from the Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of the Lord

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 Song while lighting the candle

3rd CANDLE – (Pink)

 Scripture Reading (John 1:6-8, 19-28)

A reading from the Gospel of John

A man came, sent by God;

The Gospel of the Lord

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