The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Decked Out (27 page)

The first candle is often called the
Prophets' Candle
and is meant to signify the hope of Messiah. The second is the
Bethlehem Candle
, reminding us that God came in a humble manner. The third candle (sometimes pink to express joy) is the
Shepherds' Candle
. The fourth candle is the
Angels' Candle
, symbolizing the good news of peace they brought. The white candle is the
Christ Candle
to be lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Celebrating Advent

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas (usually the first Sunday after Thanksgiving).

On the first Sunday
, do the full celebration (see “A Family Advent Celebration”) for that week together as a family. Repeat the Call and Response, read the first week's scripture, light the first candle while saying its meaning and allowing it to burn during your meal, and sing the first verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”During the week, do an abbreviated version: Light the first candle each night while repeating its meaning, and sing the first verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

On the
second, third, and fourth Sundays of Advent
, do that week's full celebration, adding the second, third, and fourth candle lightings as appropriate. On the weekdays of those weeks, do the shortened version of lighting all candles to date while saying their meanings, but sing only that week's verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Each Scripture passage is read only on its respective Sunday. The lighting of the candles, however, is added accumulatively until all the candles are burning together the fourth week and on Christmas.

A Family Advent Celebration

First Week

Call and Response

LEADER:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
light.

ALL:
Those who dwelled in a land of deep darkness, on them has
light shined.

LEADER:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and
the government shall be upon his shoulders.

ALL:
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Read the first scripture:
Isaiah 40:1–5.

Light the first candle,
and say:

I light this candle in memory of God's promise to send a Savior
who will forgive our sin and deliver us from injustice.

Sing
the first verse and refrain of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Second Week

Call and Response
—repeat from the first week.

Light the first candle
, repeat its meaning, and sing the first verse and refrain of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Read the second scripture:
John 8:12.