advent - love

What is Advent?

Advent is the holy season that precedes Christmas. From the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival,” it is a time of hope and expectancy, when Christians prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ. Each of the four weeks of advent encompass a theme; this week’s theme is Love, God-with-us, Restoration, and Fulfillment. Use these prayers and Scriptures to prepare your heart for the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Advent Collect (Book of Common Prayer)

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Select Prayer (Revised Common Lectionary)

O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption in the coming of the Savior. Make our hearts leap with joy, and fill our mouths with songs of praise, that we may announce glad tidings of peace, and welcome the Christ in our midst. Amen.

Scripture

Hebrew Bible          Psalm                  New Testament                  Gospel

Isaiah 7:10-16         Psalm 80              Romans 1:1-7                   Matthew 1:18-25