First Sunday of Advent
“Stay awake! You do not know when the appointed time
will come.”
(Gather in silence as the family member chosen, lights
the first candle).
Leader: O Lord, during this Advent season, help each of
us to become aware of our need for you, to be full of
thankfulness and joy and to repay love with love.
Family: Prepare us for your coming, Jesus.
Leader: May this Advent light remind us of Jesus who is
the Light of the world.
Family: Prepare us for your coming, Jesus.
Leader: During this Advent preparation, just as the potter
fashions his clay, mold this family into the image of your
Son.
Family: Prepare us for your coming, Jesus.
Leader: God, we ask you to help us remember during this
busy season what Christmas is really all about, and
awaken us to your presence in our lives. We offer our
prayer in the name of Jesus, your Son.
Family: Amen.
Second Sunday of Advent
“Make ready the way of the Lord, clear him a straight
path.”
(Gather in silence as the family member chosen, lights
the two candles).
Leader: Father, turn our hearts and our minds back to
you, that we may listen to the message of John the
Baptist to prepare the way for the Savior to come to us.
Family: Come to us Lord, may your presence be our
peace.
Leader: Come to us Lord, in our family life. May your
presence be the deep love in which we grow together
and the peace that overcomes all conflict.
Family: Come to us Lord; may your presence be our
peace.
Leader: Lord, you stand among us unnoticed and
unknown. Teach us to see you in the poor and lonely,
the hungry and the sick in our midst.
Family: Come to us Lord; may your presence be our
peace.
Leader: We praise you for the example of Mary. Her
openness to you brought Jesus into this world. May
each of us continue to bring Jesus to all those we touch.
Family: Amen.
Third Sunday of Advent
(Gather in silence as the family member chosen, lights
the three candles).
Leader: Lord, God, we thank you for your constant love.
As we prepare for the coming of your Son, may we
recognize all the precious gifts you give us each day.
Family: We are grateful for your constant love!
Leader: We praise you Father with all our hearts, because
in your Son, Jesus you share our human life.
Family: We are grateful for your constant love!
Leader: Lord, accept the gift of our lives, our work, our
play, the small things and the special things, the sad and
the joyful. Take them as a sign of our gratitude.
Family: We are grateful for your constant love!
Leader:
O Lord, our God, everything we are and
everything we have is your gift to us. Forgive us for the
time we have taken you for granted. Remove from our
hearts all sadness which keeps us from feeling the hope
and joy of your Son’s birth.
Family: Amen.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
(Gather in silence as the family member chosen, lights
the four candles).
Leader: We welcome you as you come to us through
those who love us and care for us, may we love them in
return.
Family: Lord Jesus, come and be born in our hearts.
Leader: No one will ever know that you have come to
us, unless they see your presence in the patient care we
have for one another.
Family: Lord Jesus, come and be born in our hearts.
Leader: Just as Mary, your mother, brought you into the
world, help us bring you to each person we meet,
especially the sick and the lonely.
Family: Lord Jesus, come and be born in our hearts.
Leader: All the earth awaits your coming Lord. Fulfill
your promise and come. Let us, like Mary, say “yes” to
your life in our hearts and our homes. We ask this
through Christ, Our Lord.
Family: Amen.