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According to present usage, Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday
nearest to the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle (November 30) and
embracing four Sundays. The first Sunday may be as early as November 27,
and then Advent has twenty-eight days, or as late as December 3, giving
the season only twenty-one days.
With Advent the ecclesiastical year begins in the Western churches.
During this time the faithful are admonished
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to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the
anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God
of love,
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thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the
Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and
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thereby to make themselves ready for His final
coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world.
| Advent
Prayer
Father, all powerful and
ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere
to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
When he humbled himself to come among us,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now we watch for the day,
hoping that the salvation promised us will be ours
when Christ will come again in his glory.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven
we proclaim your glory
and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosana in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosana in the highest.
Amen. |
Sunday - November 29, 2009
First Sunday of the Advent
The first Candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent,
shortly after November 30. It is called the Prophecy Candle and reminds us that
Jesus' coming was prophesied hundreds of years before He was born. The candle's
purple color represents Christ's royalty as the King of Kings. Suggested Bible
Reading: Isaiah 9:2-6 and Luke 1:30-35
Prayer as we light the first
purple Advent Candle - the Candle of Hope
(The Patriarchs, Abraham, the Old Testament
Ancestors of Jesus)
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Stir up thy power, O Lord, and come,
that by thy protection we may be rescued from the dangers that beset us through our sins; and be a Redeemer to deliver us; Who livest
and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one
God, world without end.
Amen. |
Sunday - December 6, 2009
Second Sunday of the Advent
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.
It too is purple, reminding us that it was a King Who was born in the manger.
Suggested Bible reading: Micah 5:2 and Luke 2:1-7
Prayer as we light the second
purple Advent Candle - The Candle of Peace
(The prophets who foretold the birth of Jesus)
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Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the paths of
thine Only-begotten Son: that we may worthily serve thee with hearts purified by
His coming: Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
Amen. |
Sunday - December 13, 2009
Third Sunday of the Advent
The third candle, lit on the third Sunday of advent with the first two, is
the Shepherds' 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. Suggested Bible reading: Isaiah 52:7 and Luke 2:8-20.
Prayer as we light the third
(rose) Advent Candle -The Candle of Love
(John The Baptist)
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We beseech thee to listen to our
prayers, O Lord,
and by the grace of thy coming enlighten our darkened minds: Thou who livest
and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God
forever and ever.
Amen. |
Sunday - December 20, 2009
Fourth Sunday of the Advent
The fourth candle, lit on the fourth Sunday of advent, is the Angel's candle.
As we light this flame, we are reminded of the heavenly hosts that proclaimed
Christ's arrival with "Behold, I bring unto you good tiding of great joy!" The
Angel candle is also purple, reminding us that it was a King's birth the angels
were announcing. Suggested Bible Reading: Ezekiel 34:23, Luke 2:15-20 and John
10:11
Prayer as we light all fourth
Advent Candles - The Candle of Joy (Pink candle)
(Mary the Mother of Jesus)
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Thank you God for the joy you
give us. We ask that as we wait for all your promises to come true, and
for Christ to come again, that you would remain present with us. Help us
today, and everyday to worship you,
to hear your word, and to do your will by sharing your joy with each
other. We ask it in the name of the one who was born in Bethlehem.
Amen. |
Friday, December 25,
2009
Christmas Day
Last Candle Now we light our last candle to remember the birth of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. As the prophets promised so long ago, you have
come to us once again; and with the shepherds, we are filled with wonder and
amazement.
Prayer as we
light the white Christ candle now - The Last Candle
"The Birth of
Christ"
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Lord, you come as a tiny, fragile baby; yet we know
that you are God and you are with us. May the flame of this candle remind us
that you are the light of the world and that if we follow you, we will never
walk in darkness, but will have the true light of life. Come,
Lord Jesus, come.
Amen. |
Liturgical Calendar 2005-2014
| Year |
SC |
WC |
Bef |
Aft |
Bapt |
SO Bef |
Ash |
Easter |
Asc |
Pent |
Trinity |
Corpus |
Advent |
| 2005 |
A |
1 |
5 |
7 |
9 Jan |
6 Feb |
9 Feb |
27 Mar |
5 May |
15 May |
22 May |
29 May |
27 Nov |
| 2006 |
B |
2 |
8 |
9 |
8 Jan |
26 Feb |
1 Mar |
16 Apr |
25 May |
4 Jun |
11 Jun |
18 Jun |
3 Dec |
| 2007 |
C |
1 |
7 |
8 |
7 Jan |
18 Feb |
21 Feb |
8 Apr |
17 May |
27 May |
3 Jun |
10 Jun |
2 Dec |
| 2008 |
A |
2 |
4 |
6 |
13 Jan |
3 Feb |
6 Feb |
23 Mar |
1 May |
11 May |
18 May |
25 May |
30 Nov |
| 2009 |
B |
1 |
7 |
9 |
11 Jan |
22 Feb |
25 Feb |
12 Apr |
21 May |
31 May |
7 Jun |
14 Jun |
29 Nov |
| 2010 |
C |
2 |
6 |
8 |
10 Jan |
14 Feb |
17 Feb |
4 Apr |
13 May |
23 May |
30 May |
6 Jun |
28 Nov |
| 2011 |
A |
1 |
9 |
11 |
9 Jan |
6 Mar |
9 Mar |
24 Apr |
2 Jun |
12 Jun |
19 Jun |
26 Jun |
27 Nov |
| 2012 |
B |
2 |
7 |
8 |
8 Jan |
19 Feb |
22 Feb |
8 Apr |
17 May |
27 May |
3 Jun |
10 Jun |
2 Dec |
| 2013 |
C |
1 |
5 |
7 |
13 Jan |
10 Feb |
13 Feb |
31 Mar |
9 May |
19 May |
26 May |
2 Jun |
1 Dec |
| 2014 |
A |
2 |
8 |
10 |
12 Jan |
2 Mar |
5 Mar |
20 Apr |
29 May |
8 Jun |
15 Jun |
22 Jun |
30 Nov |
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