Advent Devotions

From All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville, VA

You may download a pdf here.

The First Week of Advent

Leader: Watch ye, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. St. Mark xiii. 35, 36.

Light the first candle.

The Lessons:

Monday: St. Mark 1:1-13

Tuesday: St. Mark 1:14-28

Wednesday: St. Mark 1:29-39

Thursday: St. Mark 1:40-45

Friday: St. Mark 2:1-12

Saturday: St. Mark 2:13-22

Leader or all together: ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

IN particular, we implore thy grace and protection for the ensuing day. Keep us temperate in all things, and diligent in our several callings. Grant us patience under our afflictions. Give us grace to be just and upright in all our dealings; quiet and peaceable; full of compassion; and ready to do good to all men, according to our abilities and opportunities. Direct us in all our ways. Defend us from all dangers and adversities; and be graciously pleased to take us, and all who are dear to us, under thy fatherly care and protection. These things, and whatever else thou shalt see to be necessary and convenient to us, we humbly beg, through the merits and mediation of thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Together: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment

In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight,

in Bethlehem,
in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your silent petitions]
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Leader: THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

✠

The Second Week of Advent

Leader: Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah xl. 3.

Light the first and second candle.

The Lessons:

Monday: St. Mark 2:23-3:6

Tuesday: St. Mark 3:7-19

Wednesday: St. Mark 3:20-35

Thursday: St. Mark 4:1-20

Friday: St. Mark 4:21-29

Saturday: St. Mark 4:30-41

Leader or all together: BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Together: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight,

in Bethlehem,
in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your silent petitions]
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Leader: THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

✠

The Third Week of Advent

Leader: Repent ye, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. St. Matt. iii. 2.

Light the first, second, and third (rose) candle.

The Lessons:

Monday: St. Mark 5:1-2

Tuesday: St. Mark 5:21-43

Wednesday: St. Luke 12:35-48

Thursday: St. Mark 6:1-6

Friday: 2 Cor. 5:5-21

Saturday: St. Matt. 9:35-10:15

Leader or all together: O LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Together: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight,

in Bethlehem,
in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your silent petitions]
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Leader: THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

✠

The Fourth Week of Advent

Light all four candles.

The Lessons:

Monday: St. Luke 1:5-25

Leader or all together: O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Together: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight,

in Bethlehem,
in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your silent petitions]
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Leader: THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

✠

Additional Advent devotions and traditions:

The Jesse Tree
Preparing the Manger and the Creche
Advent Calendar
O Come, O Come Emmanuel with the daily prayers

O come, O come, Immanuel

1 O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

2 O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

4 O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save,

and give them victory o'er the grave.

Refrain

5 O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home. Make safe for us the heavenward road

and bar the way to death's abode.

Refrain

6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar! Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light. Refrain

7 O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain

Baptism Liturgy

O Antiphons