This is a blog dedicated to sharing creative Advent worship ideas, visuals and resources. You might notice that we use blue candles instead of the often-used purple and pink. Blue is the color of HOPE. The use of this color for Advent is being used more and more and sets this wonderful season of the church year apart as special and unique in itself ... apart from Lent when purple is used. So WELCOME! Welcome pastors, worship team members and all who love the anticipation, the waiting and the great hope found in Jesus's coming ... then, now and in his coming again!



Saturday, October 9, 2010

"Removal of Advent Candles" during Benediction


A visual reminder to the congregation that we are not to keep the Light of the Holy Promise of Advent to ourselves, in our sanctuaries, but to carry it out into the world. This particular year, Broad Street UMC chose to have the Advent participation at the end of the service instead of at the beginning. It is probably best to find candleholders with strong stems.

Broad Street UMC / Statesville, NC

• The setting is not the traditional Advent wreath. It is a table of assorted greenery with four glass candleholders/blue candles. All four candleholders/candles are in place on Advent Sunday #1.

• The lighting of the Advent candle(s) may be done in any manner and with any liturgy that you desire at the beginning of the service ... even have them prelit before the worship service begins if you wish.

• At the end of the service, when the benediction is normally offered, the pastor removes the candleholder with the lit candle(s), walks out into the congregation and hands the candleholder/candle to someone in the congregation.

• The pastor’s “charge” to that person is, “Are you willing to carry the Light of the Holy Promise of Advent into the darkness of the world. If so, rise and walk with me.”

• At that point, the person(s) accepts the candleholder/candle, rises and walks up the aisle, to the back of the sanctuary.

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