Advent Prayer Week 1 (Year B)

Overview

This page contains prayers for the first week of Advent and would be suitable for school community prayer, for example staff prayer.

The prayers are suitable for 2020 (year B in the three-year lectionary cycle) as they include Sunday readings for the first week of Advent.

The prayers are also available in PDF format and also as a presentation on Adobe Spark.

Advent Prayer Week 1 (Year B)

Advent Week 1 Year B, PDF

Presentation on Adobe Spark

During the first week of Advent, we watch and pray, awaiting the Lord’s coming.

As we enter the Church’s new liturgical year, cycle B, the season of Advent reminds us that we can look forward to and prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It is a season of so many things: of expectation, reflection, hope and trust. We are constantly in a state of expectation, always in advent, so much so that we can miss the present moment where, inevitably, God will be.

We have to wait, and Advent reminds us that we are waiting for God. How strange it is to think that in a way God also waits. He always waits for us to come to him for he never forces himself on us, and when we do come to him, he is delighted and will give us many graces.

We Gather

Leader: We light the first candle, candle of hope to proclaim that God's light is coming into the world.

(Lighting of the first purple candle of Advent Wreath – The Hope Candle)

Leader: This week, we recall the hope we have in Christ. The prophets of Israel all spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a saviour would be born, a king in the line of David. They spoke of how he would rule the world wisely and bless all nations. Let us pray:

All: Almighty God, we begin this Advent Season as an ‘Advent People’ – people of hope, ready to do your will. Let your blessing come upon us as we light this wreath. May it turn our hearts to you in the days ahead. Grant us the peace and joy we long for, as we await the coming of your Son with patient hearts. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We Listen

(Mark 13:32-37)

But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ.

We Respond

Leader: We await your coming and with joyful hearts we pray:

All: Come Lord Jesus.

Leader: You come to bring us hope and courage:

All: Come Lord Jesus.

Leader: You come as a reflection of God’s love:

All: Come Lord Jesus.

Leader: You come to show us ways of compassion and mercy:

All: Come Lord Jesus.

Leader: We await your coming and with joyful hearts we pray:

All: Come, Lord Jesus.

We Go

Leader: O God, open our hearts to prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Guide us in your ways of compassion so that we may extend your love and mercy to all people.

Song: ‘Come Lord Jesus Come’ by Steve Angrisano

Lord Jesus, we await your coming.