Clarence UMC Daily Reading and Prayer Guide for Advent 2022
More than a daily reading guide, this is a suggested way of growing in our awareness of God throughout the day during Advent and Christmas. This is also thoroughly adaptable. You may want to follow the guide all at once each day, repeat some of it throughout the day, or break it up into various parts throughout the day. The goal is develop a more faithful, loving and responsive awareness of God’s presence and work in our lives throughout the day. So, adapt this guide in a way that works for you.
Please seriously consider the time of silence – this may be the most difficult part for you, but it could be really significant. In fact, you may want to extend some of the portions of this guide to include a moment or two of silence at various points, especially concluding the various scripture readings.
Many of the sections have seven different suggested Scriptures for each day of the week. For example, in the “Confession” section, there are seven scriptures, each revealing some aspect of what it is to confess our sins before God who loves us.
I considered including the verses of each text, but I really want to encourage you to be in your Bible. Yes, it means turning some pages, but this practice of becoming more and more familiar with Scripture itself will be a blessing to you. You may even what to read a bit before and after the passages listed for more context.
For families, consider using a few of these sections for family readings and prayer during Advent, and even light an Advent candle.
Please see these times of reading and prayer as times when God meets with you in a special way – you don’t have to depend on someone else’s devotional thoughts and stories…the Word of God is a way of God’s grace working in your life. If you regularly use a devotional like The Upper Room, or Our Daily Bread, consider their use as a supplement to being in the Scripture passages that are here in this guide.
On Sundays, consider this guide as part of a preparing for worship.
This guide can be easily dividing into 2 or more parts – feel free to experiment.
Opening Scriptural Invitation to Worship
Ephesians 1:3-4
Psalm 24:1-5
Psalm 86:8-10
Psalm 113:1-3
Revelation 4:11
Psalm 19:14
Psalm 66:1-4
Quiet Breathing
Take 5-7 deep slow breaths – you may want to do this with eyes closed
Confession – these Scriptures can be a way help express the confession of your heart
Psalm 32:1-5
Psalm 37:39-40
Psalm 51:1-3
Psalm 51:10-12
Psalm 130:1-6
Romans 3:22-26
1 John 1:5-9
Silent Personal Confession
Speak your own confessions to the Lord and name the ways you have sinned in thought, word and deed. As you do this, we are soaked in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. “Even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Scriptural Assurance of Pardon – these reflect the grace of God who forgives
Isaiah 53:4-6
Psalm 103:8-12
Isaiah 55:6-9
Joel 2:12-13
Titus 3:4-7
1 Peter 1:3-5
Ephesians 1:3-10
Personal Expressions of Thanksgiving to God
Express your own thanksgivings to God for all the many ways you have been blessed.
You might even want to journal these thoughts.
End your time of thanksgiving with…
“Glory be to the Father; and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit! As it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be; world without end! Amen.”
Preparing Your Heart for The Word of God
Psalm 34:8
Matthew 11:28-30
Psalm 25:4-5
Isaiah 40:8
1 John 1:1-3
Psalm 85:8-10
Psalm 86:11-13
Advent Scripture Readings
As you read these passages, what might God be speaking into your life?
First Week of Advent
Nov 27 – Announcement to Mary – Luke 1:26-38
Nov 28 – Blessed Are You – Luke 1:39-45
Nov 29 – Isaiah 11:1-5
Nov 30 – Matthew 24:30-35
Dec 1 – A Great Light Has Dawned Isaiah 9:1-2
Dec 2- For unto Us a Child Is Born – Isaiah 9:6
Dec 3 – Isaiah 9:6-7
Second Week of Advent
Dec 4 – Angel Appears to Joseph – Matthew 1:18-25
Dec 5 – Today I Have Begotten You – Psalm 2
Dec 6 – A Priest Like Melchizedek – Psalm 110
Dec 7 – The Spirit Will Rest upon Him – Isaiah 11:1-3
Dec 8 – Messiah’s Righteousness and Justice – Isaiah 11:3-5
Dec 9 – The Peace of the Messiah – Isaiah 11:6-10
Dec 10 – In the Fullness of Time – Galatians 4:4-5
Third Week of Advent
Dec 11 – Lamentations 3:21-24
Dec 12 – Romans 8:22-39
Dec 13 – Hebrews 10:19-23
Dec 14 – Romans 4:16-25
Dec 15 – Hebrews 6:9-12
Dec 16 – Luke 1:46-56
Dec 17 – Isaiah 40:1-11
Fourth Week of Advent
Dec 18 – Isaiah 55:8-12
Dec 19 – Hebrews 12:1-3
Dec 20 – Isaiah 35:1-10
Dec 21 – Colossians 1:15-20
Dec 22 – Romans 8:31-39
Dec 23 – Philippians 2:1-11
Dec 24 – John 3:16-17, and 1 John 4:9-19
Christmas Day December 25
Morning – Birth in Bethlehem – Luke 2:1-14
Evening – Luke 2:15-20
Dec 26 – The Blessing of Simeon – Luke 2:25-35
Dec 27 – The Blessing of Anna – Luke 2:36-38
Dec 28 – Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh – Matthew 2:1-12
Dec 29 – The Flight into Egypt – Matthew 2:13-23
Dec 31 – He Emptied Himself – Philippians 2:5-11
**********If you are dividing this guide into 2 prayer times, this is a good dividing spot. The remainder can be read and prayed in the evening or before bed.*********
Lord’s Prayer (pick any of the 3 versions)
Contemporary Version
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
The Message Translation
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. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Amen.
God’s Word Translation
Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give us our daily bread today. Forgive us as we forgive others. Don’t allow us to be tempted. Instead, rescue us from the evil one, Amen.
Personal Prayers for the Needs on Your Heart
Pray for the needs of your life, your family and friends, church, community and extending out to nation and world. There is much to pray for and your prayers are significant!
2 Minutes of Silence
This may take some practice – as it becomes part of your spiritual practice, you may want to add to this time of silence.
Scriptures of Thanksgiving
Luke 1:46-53
1 Peter 1:3-9
Ephesians 1:3-10
Luke 1:68-79
Luke 1:29-32
Psalm 103:1-4
Revelation 5:12
Blessing
Romans 15:13
Psalm 67:1-3
Ephesians 3:20-21
2 Corinthians 13:14
Philippians 4:4-7
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Hebrews 13:20-21
Evening Prayer
If it is evening, you can close the day by praying one or more of the following four prayers:
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; in the name of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the trials of this life may rest in your eternal faithfulness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; may your Holy Spirit watch over us and preserve us in peace and bless us all our days. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord give us peaceful sleep and watch over us and all those we love. Refresh our weary bodies and minds and strengthen us to serve you in the day to come. Amen.
These four prayers are adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, 1979)