In the past, I have only noticed Advent on Sundays when we lit a candle at church in the Advent wreath. I really love this idea of Celtic Advent as a way to spiritually prepare for the holiday season. In googling "Celtic Advent", I found the following at www.wellsprings.org.uk:
| Opening Responses | |
| Reader | Days of heavy clouds stifling the sunlight the world burdened by greyness and gloom |
| ALL | OPEN OUR EYES, LORD TO THE COMING OF YOUR LIGHT LIFTING THE BURDEN OF DARKNESS FROM OUR LIVES. |
| Reader | Chillness that seeps deep into bones hearts and spirits rigid with frost-hardness souls wrapped up against coldness and loneliness. |
| ALL | OPEN OUR SOULS, LORD, TO THE WARMTH OF YOUR COMING MELTING THE HARDNESS THAT KEEPS US FROM YOU AND FROM EACH OTHER. |
| Reader | Trees - branches bare against the steel skies stems crumpled under weight of frost - weight of snow last year’s leaves - blackened and slippery underfoot - nature oppressed by wintriness - yet resting - awaiting rebirth. |
| ALL | CHERISH OUR HEARTS, LORD OPPRESSED BY WINTRINESS - ASSURE US OF YOUR COMING OF YOUR CALL TO NEW LIFE. |
| Closing Responses | |
| Reader | We take the light of our prayer into the world |
| ALL | TO PRAY FOR THOSE UNABLE TO PRAY; TO OFFER OURSELVES AS ANSWERS TO PRAYER. |
| Reader | We take the light of our compassion into the world: |
| ALL | TO COME ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING ANGUISH OF HEART ANGUISH OF MIND AND BE AS CHRIST FOR THEM. |
| Reader | We take the light of God's power into the world: |
| ALL | GOD'S POWER MADE PERFECT IN POWERLESSNESS STRENGTH MADE KNOWN IN WEAKNESS LIFE MADE KNOWN IN DYING. |
| Reader | God enters the hearts of all who pray - and feel they are not heard May our God bless us |
| ALL | THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT |
| Reader | And until we meet again |
| ALL
| MAY GOD HOLD US IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND. AMEN |
