Advent Liturgies
Advent Readings, Prayers, Liturgies for Every Lectionary Year
Explore Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
Advent Liturgy
Lectionary-Based Liturgies for Each Week of Advent
Complete Liturgies
Week 1 - Hope [Read Liturgy]
Week 2 - Peace [Read Liturgy]
Week 3 - Joy [Read Liturgy]
Week 4 - Love [Read Liturgy]
Christmas Eve/Day [Read Liturgy]
What is Advent?
Advent is the beginning of the Christian liturgical year—a season of hopeful waiting and spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival” or “coming.” For four weeks leading up to Christmas, Christians around the world mark this season with prayer, reflection, candle lighting, and worship rooted in expectation.
Each Sunday in Advent highlights a key theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. These are symbolized by candles on the Advent wreath, with the third candle (pink) representing joy—Gaudete Sunday. More than a countdown to Christmas, Advent invites us into a posture of quiet anticipation and deep trust in God’s promises, both past and future.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advent
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Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on December 24, Christmas Eve. The season lasts four Sundays, though the number of days can vary year to year.
Here are the start and end dates for upcoming Advent seasons:
2025: November 30 - December 24
2026: November 29 - December 24
2027: November 28 - December 24
2028: December 3 - December 24
2029: December 2 - December 24
2030: December 1 - December 24
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The word “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” In the Christian tradition, Advent is the season of preparation and waiting for the coming of Christ. This includes:
His coming in the past — celebrating Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem,
His coming in the present — welcoming Christ into our lives today, and
His coming in the future — looking ahead to His return in glory.
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The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete is Latin for “Rejoice!” and comes from the opening line of the traditional introit: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!”(Philippians 4:4).
This Sunday marks a shift in tone—from the solemn and reflective waiting of early Advent to a moment of joyful anticipation. The pink (or rose) candle symbolizes joy, a lightening of spirit as we draw closer to the celebration of Christ’s birth. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of longing, joy is already breaking in.
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While not listed in a single passage, these themes reflect major biblical teachings and are drawn from texts commonly read during Advent.
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No. The weekly themes (Hope, Peace, Joy, Love) stay the same across all three lectionary years—A (Matthew), B (Mark), and C (Luke)—but the scripture passages shift.
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Advent looks both backward and forward: celebrating Christ’s first coming in Bethlehem and anticipating his promised return in glory.
Advent Liturgy
Explore 12 grace-centered Prayers of Confession for Advent that speak to our longing, weariness, and hope. These liturgical prayers pair with calls to confession and reflect a Presbyterian tone—offering grace and renewal in the season of waiting.