Devotions for Advent

with
Prayers Written by Members
of __________ Lutheran Church
City_____, State______
Making an Advent Wreath

	Advent Wreaths are the worship center for Advent Devotions, but these need not be elaborate.  You can construct a wreath with as little as 4 tall candles or 4 small votives and a little greenery, real or artificial.  The candles can be all white or all blue (the color of Advent Hope). 
	To make an Advent Wreath with real greenery, purchase a green ring or block of styrofoam.  (Even a block will make a round wreath once the greenery is inserted.)  Carve out four small holes to place tall candles in.  Make the holes smaller than the candles so that the candles fit snugly.  Or put a little bit a clay in the bottom of each hole to help secure the candle.  Then collect some evergreen from a Christmas Tree sales lot or from your own garden and begin placing the greenery into the styrofoam.  Hint:  It helps to use a pencil to pierce holes in the foam where you wish to insert thin greenery stems.  Make slanted holes rather than piercing straight in.  Add other decorations as you wish.  Be sure to keep both greenery and decorations low and away from candle tops.

Using the Wreath & Devotions

	Place your wreath at the center of your dining table where you and your family will gather for the devotions once per day.  Light one candle for each week in Advent, according to the schedule in the devotional.  Hint:  You may need to replace candles that burn low.  Do not allow burning candles to get too close to the greenery or the decorations.
	Advent devotions and candle lighting can be done at any time that is convenient for you and your family.  Often the best time is when people gather for a meal.  In a family, share duties for candle lighting and leading the devotions.  
	The devotions end with Christmas Eve.
Advent Devotions Liturgy

L = Leader     A = All

Light the assigned number of candles on the wreath while saying:

L:	Behold, the King comes.
A:	O come, let us worship him.

L:	Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!   You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.  
A:	Stir up your might, and come to save us! 

L:	Restore us, O God;  let your face shine, that we may be saved.  (Psalm 80:1-3)
A:	Glory be to the Father, and to the + Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Read the Scripture Lesson assigned for this day in Advent as found in this booklet.

Then read the assigned prayer for the day.

Close with the Lord’s Prayer and/or your usual grace before meals.  Or this grace:

A	Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.  And let these gifts to us be blest. Amen.

You may also continue with your other daily devotions.

The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

First Week of Advent
Light one candle each day for this week.

SUNDAY 	Read Isaiah 2:1-5

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Monday 	Read Isaiah 64:1-8

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Tuesday 	Read Jeremiah 33:14-16

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Wednesday 	Read Micah 4:1-5

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Thursday 	Read Micah 4:6-8

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Friday 	Read Micah 5:2-5a

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Saturday 	Read Isaiah 60:1-6

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Second Week of Advent
Light two candles each day for this week.

SUNDAY 	Read Isaiah 11:1-10

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Monday	Read Isaiah 40:1-11

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Tuesday 	Read Malachi 3:1-4

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Wednesday	Read Hosea 6:1-6

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Thursday	Read Ezekiel 36:24-28

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Friday 	Read Malachi 4:1-6

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Saturday	Read Isaiah 25:6-9

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Third Week of Advent
Light three candles each day for this week.

SUNDAY 	Read Isaiah 35:1-10

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Monday 	Read Isaiah 61:1-4

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Tuesday 	Read Zephaniah 3:14-20

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Wednesday 	Read Isaiah 12:2-6

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Thursday	Read Isaiah 29:17-24

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Friday 	Read Isaiah 62:6-12

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Saturday 	Read Isaiah 52:7-10

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Fourth Week of Advent
Light four candles each day for this week.

SUNDAY 	Read Isaiah 7:10-16

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Monday 	Read Luke 1:1-25

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Tuesday 	Read Luke 1:26-38

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Wednesday 	Read Luke 1:39-56

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Thursday 	Read Luke 1:57-80

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Friday 	Read Matthew 1:18-25

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Saturday 	Read Psalm 80

Prayer:   	Print the prayer that is composed by the church member here.  (Name of the member)

Christmas Day
Light all candles on your Advent Wreath including the central Christ Candle, if you have one.

Read John 1:1-14

Prayer:	All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace.  Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.  (The Nativity of Our Lord II, Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

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Save this Advent Devotional with your Christmas decorations so that you may use it again next year.