Advent Evening Prayers are designed to center our thoughts and hearts on the mystery and beauty of the advent season. Based on the first two chapters of Luke, Advent Evening Prayers are meant to be read out loud at the end of the day. Each prayer begins with a scripture followed by a responsive reading. For each reading, you will need a bible, two or more people, and an open heart. We hope you are blessed as you take a moment each night this season to reflect on the wonder of Christ coming to the earth.

subsequent readings will be posted on December 7th, December 12th, and December 18th.

Day 1, December 1st

Reading: Luke 1:1-4

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus! Fill our hearts with your spirit anew.

People: We begin this season with a time of expectancy. In this dark night, it is your presence, your light, your face that we seek, Lord Jesus. We await your coming to us.

People: As we wait, we look to your word, and we thank you Lord, for the truth that is written in it.

Leader: We thank you for this story. We thank you for Luke, the man who took care to write down exactly what happened. We look forward with excitement, together as we get ready to read about your coming to the earth.

People: Bless us, O lord, in this time of waiting. Let us know our need for the light of your presence this night.

Together: Amen

Day 2, December 2

Reading: Luke 1:5-7

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!

People: Fill our hearts with your spirit anew.

Leader: Lord, we look to the saints of old to guide us in the way we should walk.

People: May we be a people full of love and honor and worship, as Zacharias and Elizabeth were.

Leader: Teach us Lord, to be righteous. Teach us to walk in your ways, for the glory of your name.

People: Lord, we worship you. We exalt your name!

Leader: Bless us Lord, this evening, as we bless your name. Cleanse our minds and hearts so we might dream in the midst of your holiness, your grace and your peace tonight.

Together: Amen

Day 3, December 3

Luke 1:8-10

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus.

People: Fill our hearts with your spirit anew

Leader: Lord, tonight we bring you our offering of worship.

People: We bring you our offering of praise. Holy is your name!

Leader: May our prayers tonight be like incense, a beautiful scent of worship that actually touches your senses.

People: May all people and angels in the heavenly realm smell our offering of praise to you tonight!

Leader: Thank you Lord, that by your coming to the earth, you have opened the door to your inner courts. Thank you that we can come to you directly, just as Zacharias did when he came to you in the inner courts.

People: We are worshippers in your inner courts. We worship you!

Leader: Bless us Lord, as we sleep tonight. May the incense of our prayers linger in our homes and in the heavens long after we fall asleep.

Together: Amen.

Day 4, December 4

Reading: Luke 1:12-17

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!

People: Fill us with your joy. Fill us with your peace.

Leader: We thank You Lord, that in your presence there is fullness and joy.

People: You bring joy! You bring peace.

pause for a moment to allow the Lord’s peace to come to you.

Leader: Lord, we give you thanks for those who prepare the way.

People: Open our ears to hear and to honor the prophets in our midst.

Leader: Show us, this night, how we, like John, might pave the way for your coming.

People: By your spirit, we pave the way for you to come: to us, and to those who need healing, love and compassion.

Together: We prepare the way together. Bless us O Lord, as we bless your name this night. Amen.

Day 5, December 5

Reading: Luke 1:18-23

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!

People: Descend upon us, tonight we pray.

Leader: Lord, allow us the grace to perceive you when you come to us in the Holy Place.

People: Help us not to be afraid of encountering you, Lord. Teach us to look forward to our meetings with you! We want to be a people who are watchful, ever eager to meet you!

Leader: We long for more holy visitations from you. Teach us to respond to you, Lord, when you come.

People: Grant us, Lord, the wisdom to know when to speak of your wonders to others. Teach us Lord, about your timing, not ours.

Leader: May your peace rest upon us as we sleep tonight. We pray you will meet us in our dreams.
Together: Amen

Day 6, December 6

Reading : Luke 1:24,25

Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!

People: We open our hearts to you tonight.

Leader: Lord, we worship you. You are the giver of life. You are a good God!

People: We praise you! We thank you for your goodness.

Leader: We thank you, Father that you wipe away all of our tears.

People: You take away all of our shame.

Together: You bring honor. You bring blessing.

Leader: Teach us Lord, to know and to appreciate every good gift you give us. We thank you for a Father who wants to bless his children!

People: We treasure your blessings, Lord.
Most of all this night, we treasure you. We love you!

Leader: Grant us O Lord, your grace and peace tonight as we sleep.
Together: Amen.

When teaching on prayer, Jesus taught his disciples to be simple. To go to a quiet place. Alone. He reveals a full-bodied, all inclusive, beautiful and succinct prayer guide in Matthew 6.
Here is Eugene Peterson’s contemporary version of the prayer Jesus taught:

Let’s pray…

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best — as above, so below.

Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
You’re in charge!

You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Matthew 6:9-13 The Message

I didn’t really know it existed- dream prayer

until I experienced it the other night.

An unconscious mind–connecting with the Living God.
Sound asleep.

Mysterious, no doubt.
I cannot tell you the words that were prayed.
There were no words
I do not know if my prayer was a lament. Intercession. Worship.
But I know it was real.
And I know it was heard.

I remember the presence I felt during the dream–and sounds that came from the depths.
It was a similar sound I had heard before–but something was different.
Passion, intensity.
The complete lack of awareness of thought.

No evaluation, no discerning interpretation. Which makes it impossible to remember or discern exactly what I was praying about.
“For the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words….”

I think…that night
Someone decided my prayer needed some help.
Some groanings, I guess.
It’s a bit strange, really… to be so removed cognitively from that which has so much power.
My mind, my thoughts, my memory: Not really necessary.

And I like thinking about it during the day now–the mystery–and the not knowing.
Something supernatural happened. Is happening. Or will happen.
And I may never know.

Whether we recall or not–I like to think about how many times we pray in our sleep– and what happens in the heavenlies when we lay down at night.

And the very fact that sleeping is no longer just sleeping…
But the unconscious spirit waking.