Home › Blog › Advent

Advent

Advent Wreath Readings for Your Bulletin: A Week-by-Week Guide

October 21, 2026 · LanternLetter Co.

Lighting the Advent wreath is one of the most familiar moments of the season, and the bulletin is where the congregation follows along. This guide gives a week-by-week structure for the candle-lighting: a theme, scripture references you can choose from, a simple pattern for the liturgy, and layout tips. Write the words in your own church's voice, or use the liturgy your denomination provides.

In 2026 the First Sunday of Advent is November 29, followed by December 6, 13 and 20, with Christmas Eve on Thursday, December 24.

The wreath and its candles

A common Advent wreath has four candles in a circle of evergreens, often three purple or blue and one rose, with a white Christ candle in the center. One more candle is lit each Sunday, and the Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Themes vary by tradition. A widely used set is Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Another is Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherds and Angels. Some churches follow the themes of their lectionary readings, and some do not name the candles at all. Check what your congregation is used to before you print; changing the names partway through causes confusion. Our Advent bulletin guide covers the wider bulletin series.

A simple pattern for each week

Using the same pattern every week makes the candle-lighting easy to follow and easy to lay out:

Introduction: a sentence naming the week and its theme.
Scripture reading: one short passage.
Lighting: the candles from previous weeks are relit, then the new candle.
Response or prayer: a short line the congregation says together, printed in bold.
Sung response (optional): one verse of an Advent hymn. Many churches use the same verse every week.

Write your own introduction and prayer, or use those your denomination publishes (check their permissions before reprinting).

Week 1: Hope (November 29, 2026)

The first candle is often called the candle of hope, or the prophecy candle, recalling the prophets who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.

Isaiah 9:2 (the people who walked in darkness)
Isaiah 40:1-5
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Romans 15:4-13

Ideas for the prayer: waiting, light in darkness, God keeping promises.

Week 2: Peace (December 6, 2026)

The second candle is often the candle of peace, or the Bethlehem candle, pointing to the place of Jesus's birth.

Isaiah 11:1-10
Micah 5:2-5
Isaiah 2:2-5
Luke 1:68-79

Ideas for the prayer: peace with God and with neighbors, preparing the way, the small town of Bethlehem.

Week 3: Joy (December 13, 2026)

The third Sunday is traditionally Gaudete Sunday, and many wreaths use the rose candle for it. It is often called the candle of joy, or the shepherds' candle.

Isaiah 35:1-10
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 2:8-11

Ideas for the prayer: rejoicing, good news for all people, joy that does not depend on circumstances.

Week 4: Love (December 20, 2026)

The fourth candle is often the candle of love, or the angels' candle, recalling the announcement of Jesus's birth.

Luke 1:26-38
Matthew 1:18-25
John 3:16-17
1 John 4:9-12

Ideas for the prayer: God's love made visible, Mary's and Joseph's faithfulness, love for neighbors.

Christmas Eve or Christmas Day: the Christ candle

The white center candle marks the arrival of Christmas. Many churches light it just before or after the Gospel reading.

Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14
Isaiah 9:6-7

This lighting often leads into the passing of the light at a candlelight service. See our Christmas Eve program guide for how to lay out that moment.

About the readings and translations

The references above are suggestions, not a set lectionary. If your church follows the Revised Common Lectionary or another lectionary, you may prefer to use one of that Sunday's readings so the candle-lighting connects to the sermon. If you print the full text, use a translation your church has permission to print. The King James Version is in the public domain in the United States; most modern translations allow limited church use with a copyright notice. Printing only the reference and having the reader read from a Bible avoids the question altogether.

Who lights the candles

Many churches invite a different household each week: a family, a couple, a confirmation class, newer members, or longtime members. It is a simple way to involve people who do not usually take part in leading worship. To make it run smoothly:

Schedule readers for all four weeks plus Christmas Eve by mid-November, and print their names in the bulletin.
Give each household a copy of the liturgy a week ahead, in large print if helpful.
Provide a long lighter or taper, and show children how to use it safely.
Have a backup reader ready in case someone is ill.

Laying it out in the bulletin

Put the candle-lighting in the same place every week, either a boxed section near the start of the order of worship or a half-sheet insert.
Label the speaking parts clearly ("Reader:" and "All:"), with congregational lines in bold.
Include a small wreath illustration showing how many candles are lit; it helps people who arrive late or are new to the tradition.
Print the reader's name and the scripture reference, even if you do not print the text.
Use type large enough to read in a dim sanctuary. See our large-print bulletin guide.

Take it home

Many families keep a wreath at home. A small insert listing each week's theme and scripture references gives them an easy way to follow along during the week. It also works as an email or social media post each Sunday. For more December ideas, see Christmas church bulletin ideas.

Templates and help

Our Advent Bulletin Packs in the shop ($14) include four Advent Sundays (Hope, Peace, Joy, Love) and Christmas Eve in one matching design, with editable Word files you can adapt to your church's candle names and readings. The done-for-you Advent Set and monthly plans are on our plans page.