Date

Activity

Equipment

First Sunday of Advent

Begin by lighting the first Advent candle, and take time to become aware of the unfailing light and love of God...

‘ The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.’ (Romans 13:12)

‘ Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

You are invited to symbolically ‘put aside your deeds of darkness’ by writing your wrongdoings on a piece of black paper. Knowing that God longs to forgive all those who turn to him, destroy your list in the paper shredder and receive his forgiveness.

You may also like to ‘put on the armour of light’ by taking a cut-out figure to represent yourself, and making some ‘armour’ to glue on...

You might like to pray the Advent Collect before you put out the candle.

Advent candle, lighter/matches

A6 black paper, pencils, paper shredder

card 'dolls', white/shiny papers, scissors, Pritstiks

Advent Collect on card

 Second Sunday of Advent

December 5 th – 11 th

Begin by lighting the second Advent candle, and take time to open yourself to the light and love of God...

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Behind the closed doors of this ‘calendar’ are suggested areas of your life/lifestyle where Jesus may or may not be welcome. Choose a door to open – use the dice if it helps! – and ask his Spirit to show how the light of Christ might shine more brightly in this area.

How might others see Christ’s light in your life and your lifestyle?

You might like to pray the prayer on the white card before you put out the candle – and please make sure the calendar doors are closed!

Advent candle, lighter/matches

big ‘Advent calendar’ with six closed doors to choose from, dice

prayer on card

December 12 th – 18 th

Begin by lighting the third Advent candle, and take time to relax in God’s love and light.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)

‘We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’ (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Let the glass jar represent us as a church. Stick some pieces of tissue paper on the jar to make it glorious, then light the candle inside and enjoy the radiance. Pray that we will be ‘changed from glory into glory’, and shine out in the power of the Spirit.

You might like to pray the prayer on the white card before you put out the candles.

Advent candle, lighter/matches

huge pickle jar, coloured tissue papers, PVA glue, spreaders, candle, taper

mini disco ball (on banana tree)

prayer on card

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 19 th – 24 th

Begin by lighting the fourth Advent candle, and take time to focus on God’s love and light in the darkness...

‘ The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.’ (Isaiah 9:2)

‘ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.’ (John 1:3-5)

The big box represents the world; inside are hidden some of its dark corners. Take the torch and as you shine it on the pictures, pray for the light of God’s justice and peace to dispel the darkness of injustice and oppression in our world.

The small box is to help you pray for people you know who are struggling with the darker aspects of life: bereavement, illness, disability, depression, infertility, marriage breakdown, addiction, failure, problems at work...

You might like to pray the prayer on the white card before you put out the candle.

Advent candle, lighter/matches

big box with pictures of injustice and oppression inside, torch, small box with (sad) faces on the outside

prayer on card