Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Structure:
1. Introductory Rite
Welcome and introduction – Principal
Today, we come together to pray as a school community in the spirit of Advent. Advent is a
time for waiting. We wait for the birth of Jesus, who came to show us God the Father’s love
and to free us from sin, so that we could be with him together forever. As we begin Advent,
we light one candle in the center of all the darkness in our lives and in the world. This candle
symbolizes our longing, our desire and our hope. Let us begin this celebration of joyful
waiting by singing Children of the Light.
- Leader: We begin our Advent prayer, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit, Amen.
- Opening Prayer:
God of hope
be with us in our Advent journey
to the stable and beyond,
be with us in our meeting
and in our travelling together,
be with us in our worship
and our praying together,
be with us in our Advent journey
to the stable and beyond,
our God of hope.
All: Amen
- Light the first purple candle: God, we wait for the coming of your Son, Jesus, into our
hearts and our lives this Advent. Help us to always follow him as the light of the world.
Let this candle be a reminder today of your coming and the hope we carry with us
through this time.
1
- Song: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCDvc4G7EgI
2. Scripture
NRSV
Psalm 25: 4-5; 8-9; 10, 14
Response: O Lord, we look for your coming.
Good and upright is the LORD, who shows sinners the way,
Guides the humble rightly, and teaches the humble the way.
All the paths of the LORD are faithful love toward those who honor the covenant demands.
The counsel of the LORD belongs to the faithful; the covenant instructs them. My eyes are ever
upon the LORD, who frees my feet from the snare.
Relieve the troubles of my heart; bring me out of my distress.
Gospel:
2
Properly introduced: yes Properly concluded: yes
Reflection:
Let us remember that during this busy time of year, we need to stop and reflect on how the
Christ child entered the human community, a small, helpless child in a dark night, bringing light
that we long to experience again and again. We pause in silence now to reflect on how we can
open ourselves up to the light of Christ this Advent and on how we can bring that light to others .
Prayers:
1. Winter is coming, Lord Jesus. The sky is getting darker and the nights are getting colder.
We wait for you, Light of the World, to warm our hearts with your joy.
2. We ask you to bless our Advent wreath as we are preparing for your coming, that we
welcome you with open arms.
3. We ask you Lord, to help us share with those in need, and to bring peace and joy in our
lives as we wait for you.
Leader: Let us now pray in the words Jesus gave us. Our Father…
6. Concluding Rite
Closing Prayer:
We give you thanks for the blessings of this holy Advent season. You are the source of life, of
hope, and of all good things. We look forward to the coming of the light of Christ at Christmas.
Help us to turn toward that light in our lives. We rejoice at the gift of your Son who taught us to
love in your name. May we be people of peace and justice all the days of our lives.
Your kingdom come and your will be done now and forever.
Amen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySe5pZnwig
References:
Adapted From:
http://religiouseducation.rccdsb.edu.on.ca/wpcontent/uploads/sites/26/2010/06/AdventPrayer
Service.pdf
http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Advent-2010-Prayer-
Service-with-postures-added.pdf
http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Advent.htm
https://www.tcdsb.org/News/othernews/Documents/AdventPrayerService10_0.pdf
4
General Considerations:
1. Were participants appropriately engaged?
Yes, I believe participants would be appropriately engaged with this service as there is
videos, technology to show the lyrics and many songs.. There is opportunity to sing as
well as have readers participate throughout out.
2. Did the order of service provide just what was essential to engage the participants?
Yes, there order allowed the students to stay engaged.
4. Should my colleagues be able to duplicate this prayer service with what they have been
given?
Yes, this prayer service is able to be duplicated based on this copy as everything is
provided.
In this service, the students look forward to the birth of Jesus at Christmas. We
celebrate advent- a time of waiting, where we light a candle symbolize our longing,
desire and our hope, in the celebration of the light of Christ.
7. Other comments:
This prayer service is well put together, and allows for many students to participate
throughout. It encourages participation from the audience in the many songs. The
videos of the songs are from current artists making them more up beat and engaging
for the students.