Advent Candle Prayers for Adults and for Families

Advent is a time of waiting and watching.  It is a time of remembering that we await the day when God's reign is made real throughout the whole creation praying Come, Lord Jesus.  It is a time to focus on what really matters as the nights lengthen.   Richard Rohr reminds us that it is not a desperate moment but a journey of divine hope:

“Come, Lord Jesus” is a leap into the kind of freedom and surrender that is rightly called the virtue of hope. The theological virtue of hope is the patient and trustful willingness to live without closure, without resolution, and still be content and even happy because our Satisfaction is now at another level, and our Source is beyond ourselves. We are able to trust that he will come again, just as Jesus has come into our past, into our private dilemmas and into our suffering world. Our Christian past then becomes our Christian prologue, and “Come, Lord Jesus” is not a cry of desperation but an assured shout of cosmic hope."

The practice of an Advent wreath helps us see the light of Christ grow in our hearts and minds as we strive toward 'his kingdom come.' Below you may find links to the Advent Wreath prayer sheets for families with young children that I gathered, edited and have utilized over and over again in several ministry settings.  There is also a version for teens and or adults.  These are intended to create both silence and conversation around the journey of Advent.  I hope you can use these to deepen your discipleship journey this Advent.

For Families: This version is loosely based on the Godly Play Advent Lesson.  It follows the lesson pattern rather than other classic schemes.  It connects well with Godly Play work, however anyone should find it complimentary to lifelong formation at home.

We believe that it is always a good idea to have a Holy Family/Nativity/Creche set to go with your wreath.  An easy way to add the journey of the Holy Family to your Advent practice is this 'journey game'. 

The adult or teen candle prayers are here.  This is drawn from a variety of sources, primarily Episcopal. It is deeply connected to a journey through Advent themes, however it doesn't follow any other Advent candle pattern (they do vary!). 

You might also want to invest in the new Daily Prayers for All Seasons from Church Publishing.  While not specific to an Advent wreath, the season of Advent prayers has an inspiring daily order of prayers suitable to the season.   It is available both in hard copy and digital versions.  (I love having the Kindle version at my fingertips.)

Another daily prayer option is the Common Prayer: Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals.   This work from 'emergent church' authors is a lifegiving approach to daily prayer throughout the year.  Featuring regular reflections on people who offered their life as a witness to Christian service. 

Quote from: Rohr, Richard (2012-09-30). Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent (Kindle Locations 118-123). Franciscan Media. Kindle Edition. 

Stars in their Courses: Advent - Christmas - Epiphany Calendar Activity Paper Chain

Prepare the way for the birth of Christ and the arrival of the Wise Ones at Epiphany.  This family calendar activity includes a month and more of daily activities that connect the practice of the Christian faith with the life at work beyond our doors.  The link is here.

• You will need additional paper and pens.
• Young, non-reading children, will need the help of older children and parents.
• Some activities assume internet/smartphone access. 

 To find other free and printable, interactive faithful Advent - Epiphany resources visit the blissfulirreverent!

Away and Daydreaming

This week I am out of Walla Walla to places as far flung as Lake Tahoe and Spokane.  At Lake Tahoe I am attendin the Western Christian Educators Conference.  This is a joint event of the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church (pcusa) and is hosted at the marvelous Zephyr Point Conference Center.  We also have youth leadership from many of the Province 8 dioceses.  This group of Episcopeeps had our own meeting before the conference began in earnest, and it has been a good deal of fun reuniting with old friends and making new companions.  A funny moment happened on Monday.  I had been sending a friend and fellow youth worker a variety of questions.  During a break I checked into my room and discovered not only was this pal on her way to the event, she was my roomie! 

The conference itself is centered on the work of John Roberto and meeting the cultural bleswings of the digital revolutions.  Can we create a local ecclesia that is a life supporting AND a digital network connected to our physical and spiritual community and tradition?

On Thursday I fly back to Washington and then head north to Spokane for the Youth Leadership Event that coincides with diocesan convention.  At the YLe we will be preparing youth to be peer leaders at the upcoming TEC and NEW BEGINNINGS weekends. At convention we will be blessed by the stories of Sarah Miles.  She is a leader at St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco.  An innovative and challenging congregation whose work is worth exploring.  Incedentally I am here at this conference at LakeTahoe with one of the fouding priests and a current priest, both of whom are old friends. 

Bedtime Prayers..Fun and Holy

http://store.vibrantfaith.org/product_p/bpc-12pk.htm
A good gift for a young family in your life.