Advent Wreath Prayers
Advent Week One
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Come to lighten the darkness and bring us hope.
Open our hearts to God’s loving kindness
and help us to reflect that love
to one another.
Bless each act of generous giving.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Advent Week Two
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Out of the darkness of doubt,
comes the promise of salvation.
Lift our minds and hearts in prayer
and help us to recognize God’s goodness and mercy.
As we have received, so may we be generous
with what we can extend to others in need.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Advent Week Three
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Watching, waiting and wondering
how God is acting in our life and in our time.
Help us to be receptive to the divine invitation
and respond like Mary with YES to life.
May we run with hope
over the “hill country of misunderstandings” to care for others.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Advent Week Four
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
As John the Baptist calls out: “Prepare the way of the Lord,”
help us to make right any broken relationships.
Let us seek the “Messiah” in our midst
being mindful of the poor and the powerless.
May the morning star of hope rise in our hearts
as God reveals the mystery
of love, truth, justice and peace.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Hymn
1. 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, O Israel.
2. O come, thou wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
3. O come, thou rod of Jesse’s stem,
From every foe deliver them.
From death and sin thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
4. O come, thou key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
5. O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Text: O Antiphons, 12th c. tr. John Mason Neale, 1818-1866 88 88 with refrain
Tune: Thomas Helmore, 1811-1890, 15th c. Plainchant melody