Sacred Heart School Advent Lighting Ceremony

The 2nd week of Advent

WelcomeWelcomeOn Sunday we celebrated theOn Sunday we celebrated the

second Sunday of Advent.second Sunday of Advent.

Song (option): Song (option): Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!

Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You never, never knowYou never, never knowWhen the Lord will come.When the Lord will come.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You’ve really got to be ready, everyone.You’ve really got to be ready, everyone.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!Don’t sit and wait for a special sign.Don’t sit and wait for a special sign.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You’ve really got to be ready all the time.You’ve really got to be ready all the time.

Jesus promised us that he will come again,Jesus promised us that he will come again,Come to take us home ending all our pain.Come to take us home ending all our pain.We do not know how, we do not know when,We do not know how, we do not know when,We just have to be ready then. So…We just have to be ready then. So…

Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You never, never knowYou never, never knowWhen the Lord will come.When the Lord will come.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You’ve really got to be ready, everyone.You’ve really got to be ready, everyone.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!Don’t sit and wait for a special sign.Don’t sit and wait for a special sign.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You’ve really got to be ready all the time.You’ve really got to be ready all the time.

We must live in peace, we must walk in loveWe must live in peace, we must walk in loveWe must spend our lives praising God aboveWe must spend our lives praising God aboveWhen our time has come, we can truly say,When our time has come, we can truly say,““Jesus, I am ready today!” So …Jesus, I am ready today!” So …

Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You never, never knowYou never, never knowWhen the Lord will come.When the Lord will come.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You’ve really got to be ready, everyone.You’ve really got to be ready, everyone.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!Don’t sit and wait for a special sign.Don’t sit and wait for a special sign.Watch out! Wake up!Watch out! Wake up!You’ve really got to be ready all the time.You’ve really got to be ready all the time.

Introduction:Introduction:In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Today we will light 2 candles from our Advent Wreath as Spirit. Today we will light 2 candles from our Advent Wreath as a symbol of the weeks in Advent.a symbol of the weeks in Advent.

Blessing of the Wreath:Blessing of the Wreath:Today we light the Bethlehem Candle, it reminds us that Today we light the Bethlehem Candle, it reminds us that even God prepared for the birth of his Son. even God prepared for the birth of his Son.

The manger in Bethlehem became The manger in Bethlehem became

fit for a King.fit for a King.

Second Week of Advent: Second Week of Advent: HopeHope

We are still waiting for and preparing for Jesus’ We are still waiting for and preparing for Jesus’ coming and hoping to make Jesus a part of our coming and hoping to make Jesus a part of our lives, not just at Christmas but all year long. We lives, not just at Christmas but all year long. We can prepare ourselves for Jesus through prayer can prepare ourselves for Jesus through prayer and turning ourselves to love, hope, faith, justice and turning ourselves to love, hope, faith, justice (treating people right), and kindness.(treating people right), and kindness.

Prayer opens our hearts to let God, love and faith Prayer opens our hearts to let God, love and faith in and lets out our hate and fear. Prayer is like a in and lets out our hate and fear. Prayer is like a window through which the light of God shines window through which the light of God shines through.through.

Let us this week continue in hope and prayer to Let us this week continue in hope and prayer to keep this window open.keep this window open.

Together:Together:

Oh Lord, as we prepare for Your Oh Lord, as we prepare for Your coming,coming,let us reflect on Your love in all that we let us reflect on Your love in all that we do and say.do and say.Give us the strength to change our Give us the strength to change our ways,ways,rid ourselves of angry thoughts and rid ourselves of angry thoughts and bitter words,bitter words,and selfishness and anything that and selfishness and anything that distracts us from You.distracts us from You.Oh Jesus, our hearts are open.Oh Jesus, our hearts are open.The Kingdom of Heaven is near. The Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Amen.Amen.

Response:Response:Our response to the blessings is:Our response to the blessings is: Come Lord JesusCome Lord Jesus

Show me your paths and teach me to Show me your paths and teach me to follow;follow;

Guide me by Your truth and instruct me.Guide me by Your truth and instruct me.

You keep me safe and I always trust you.You keep me safe and I always trust you.

All: Come Lord JesusAll: Come Lord Jesus

You are honest and merciful, You are honest and merciful,

And you teach sinners how to follow And you teach sinners how to follow your path.your path.

You lead humble people to do You lead humble people to do

what is right and to stay on yourwhat is right and to stay on your

path.path.

All: Come Lord Jesus.All: Come Lord Jesus.

Concluding Prayer:Concluding Prayer:God of grace and promise, be with us during this advent God of grace and promise, be with us during this advent season when we gather together as a Catholic community for season when we gather together as a Catholic community for the preparation of Jesus’ birth.the preparation of Jesus’ birth.We ask you to bless our Advent wreath and all who are around We ask you to bless our Advent wreath and all who are around it, may it remind us of the first coming of Jesus.it, may it remind us of the first coming of Jesus.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen