Advent

Tomorrow the Church celebrates the First Sunday of Advent. This is the beginning of a new liturgical year.

Here's our Advent wreath that I fashioned this year out of votive cups that will actually hold tealights.  I used tissue paper and covered them with Mod-Podge (think decoupage).  The greenery is actually some napkin holders, and the votive cups sit in each one perfectly.

  ********************************************************************************

BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

  It starts at the evening meal on the Saturday before the first Sunday in Advent with the blessing of the wreath. 

Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

Leader: O God, by whose Word all things are sanctified, pour forth Your blessing upon this wreath and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from You abundant graces. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

The wreath would then be sprinkled with water. 

Go here to get the rest of the Advent wreath prayers.