The word Advent means “coming”. This season is the time of the year when Christians begin to think of the time when Jesus “came” to earth and ponder upon his coming again. In your family, you can make this beautiful story come alive by lighting the Advent candles together. The following liturgy was inspired by an article published in the December 1965 issue of Methodist Message and has been re-written by Dr Judith Laoyan-Mosomos, Worship & Church Music Director of Methodist School of Music. It may be used in your home as a time of prayer, reflection and song.
Things to prepare
- Gather three purple candles, one pink candle and one white candle (the white candle can be slightly taller than the others).
- Arrange the purple and pink candles in a circle around the white candle.
- Add greenery around the candles to form an Advent wreath.
- Place the wreath in a visible spot in your home, perhaps beside an open Bible, a picture or a small nativity set.
Plan a regular time for your family to gather, perhaps after dinner on Saturday evening in preparation for Sunday worship. You may wish to sing one of the Advent songs suggested after reading the Scripture and lighting the candle. After each service, remember to extinguish the candles.
First Sunday of Advent
(30 November 2025)
“He is coming! Keep watch”
Scripture:
Matthew 24:36-44
Song:
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (UMH196) or All Earth is Waiting (UMH210)
| Child: | Who is coming? And why should we keep watch? |
| Parent: | It is the Messiah—Jesus, our Saviour—who is coming! We always have to be ready when we know someone is coming. |
| Child: | How should we keep watch? |
| Parent: | God teaches us to be a loving people. At home, at work, in school and in church. Wherever we are, we keep watch by living in God’s way—showing love, kindness and truth—so that when Jesus comes, he will find us faithful. |
| (Light the first purple candle.) | |
| Parent: | Let us pray. |
| All: | Our Father, Help us always to love you. Teach us to keep watch, for Jesus is coming. By loving others as you love us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. |
Second Sunday of Advent
(7 December 2025)
“Prepare the way”
Scripture:
Matthew 3:1-12
Song:
Prepare the Way of the Lord (UMH207)
| (The first purple candle is already lit.) | |
| Parent: | “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” |
| Child: | Prepare? Make straight paths? What does this mean? |
| Parent: | Remember we lit the first candle and said, “Keep watch”? As we keep watch, we also prepare. We make sure that when Jesus comes, our hearts are ready. And our relationships are good. With our family, our colleagues, our friends and our neighbours. We show kindness to one another. |
| Child: | Will Jesus help me do that? |
| Parent: | Yes, he will. Come, we ask him to help us all.Dear Jesus, we want to be ready when you come. Please help us care for one another so that when you come, there will be plenty of joy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. |
| (Light the second purple candle.) | |
Third Sunday of Advent
(14 December 2025)
“Rejoice”
Scripture:
Luke 1:46b-55
Song:
Tell Out My Soul (UMH200)
| (The first and second purple candles are already lit.) | |
| Parent: | (Light the pink candle). |
| Child: | Today, you lit the third candle. Why is it pink? |
| Parent: | The pink candle symbolises Joy! It is a day of rejoicing. The gospel of Luke tells us how happy Mary was when she learnt of his coming birth. |
| Child: | What did Mary say? |
| Parent: | She said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” In the same way, we rejoice that God sent his son Jesus to come and save us! What a gift! |
| Child: | A beautiful gift. Shall we pray and give thanks? |
| Parent: | Let us pray.
Dear God, thank you for sending your only Son. Like Mary, may we rejoice |
Fourth Sunday of Advent
(21 December 2025)
“Immanuel””
Scripture:
Matthew 1:18-25
Song:
Emmanuel, Emmanuel (UMH204)
| (The first, second and third candles are already lit.) | |
| Parent: | Immanuel! God is with us! |
| (Light the fourth candle.) | |
| Child: | Immanuel sounds like a name. |
| Parent: | Yes, that was the name that was given to the Son of Mary, Jesus. Immanuel means God is with us. |
| Child: | There are four Sundays in Advent. First we said Keep Watch. Then Prepare. Then Rejoice. Now, Immanuel, God is with us. |
| Parent: | Yes! Advent is a season of waiting. As we wait, we keep watch and prepare. And we never forget to rejoice in this good news that God is with us, always. |
| Child: | Shall we pray? |
| Prayer: | Dear God, we thank you that you are with us always. Teach us to rejoice, even as we keep watch and prepare for Jesus’ coming. In our watching and preparing, may we remember that you are with us—now and forever. Amen. |
Christmas Eve
(24 December 2025)
“Gloria in excelsis””
Scripture:
Luke 2:1-14
Song:
O Come All Ye Faithful (UMH 234)
| (All the purple and pink Advent candles are lit.) | |
| Parent: | (singing) Glo—ria, in excelsis deo… |
| Child: | We always sing gloria in excelsis deo! What does that mean? |
| Parent: | It means “glory to God in the highest”! That was the song of the angels announcing Jesus’ birth. |
| Child: | Can we light the white candle now? |
| Parent: | Yes. It is time to light the white candle—the Christ candle. |
| (Light the white candle.) | |
| Let us pray. Jesus, thank you for coming to us. Thank you for your presence in our lives. This Christmas, we pray for all people on earth that there may be peace. That wars will cease, and that children everywhere will have enough to eat. May the joy of Christmas fill the hearts of all your children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. |
|
| All: | Merry Christmas! |
Illustrations by Minnow’s Mum
