PRAYER SERVICE REFLECTION
As the day of Jesus’ birth is closing in, we did a prayer service that prepares and
welcomes Him into our home, heart, soul, and world. After the making of our creative
advent wreath, we looked up on how we are going to do the prayer service as this will
be our first time doing it ourselves, and not in the church. We made a green advent
wreath as it symbolizes new life, hope, and continuous life which reminds us of the
newborn Jesus Christ, showing us the way of everlasting life. The advent wreaths were
decorated with candles that serve as light during this Christmas season. And for these,
we have four candles with three purple and one rose pink. The three purple candles are
the colour of penance, prayer, preparation, and good works which are the small
sacrifices we make to welcome Jesus Christ in our hearts, neighbour, and to prepare
ourselves in meeting Him this coming Christmas season. These four candles represent
one of the Sundays of Advent in which the first purple candle would be lit up for the first
week. It shows hope that comes from the good news that Jesus will return. And for the
second week, is the lightening of the second candle for preparation of His coming, and
the same goes to the third and fourth candle. For the rose pink, which will be lit on the
Third Sunday of Advent, symbolizes the joy of meeting Him at Christmas.
With each week, we do the same prayer until all candles are lightened and
complete the welcome for Jesus Christ’ coming this Christmas. The light of these
candles will remind us that Jesus comes into the darkness of our life to bring hope, life,
and newness. And as we do the prayer service, we present our prayers to God the
Father as we also prepare ourselves to meet Jesus. Furthermore, family or people
would gather together in prayer in the spirit of Advent, which is also the time of waiting,
not just preparation. As we prepare for His coming, we wait for Him as well, for the birth
of Jesus who came to show us God the Father’s love and to free us from sin, in order to
be with Him together especially during this Christmas. Advent Wreath prayer is also a
celebration for the joyful waiting of the birth of Jesus.