How Churches Celebrate Advent Wreath Traditions—And How MSP Can Help Organize Them

As Advent begins and the first candle is lit, more light enters the worship space each week—symbolizing anticipation, hope, and the growing nearness of Christmas. The Advent Wreath is one of the season's most recognizable symbols, marking the passage of time not with urgency but with reflection and expectation.

Many churches incorporate a wreath lighting ritual directly into their worship services. If your parish or congregation already does this, Ministry Scheduler Pro can help you organize those who light the Advent Wreath with the same clarity and care you use for lectors, ushers, servers, and other ministries.

Here's a closer look at the Advent Wreath, plus practical ideas for including this tradition in your ministry schedule.

A Bit of History: How the Advent Wreath Came to Be

The Advent Wreath dates back to 16th-century German Lutherans who formed evergreen branches into a circle to symbolize God's everlasting love. Over time, the tradition spread across Christian denominations and is now cherished in Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed congregations.

Its symbolism remains simple and meaningful:

• The circle of the wreath represents eternity.
• The evergreen shows hope even in the darkest season.
• The four candles mark each week of Advent, growing brighter as Christmas approaches.

The Season of Advent

Advent is the four-Sunday period leading up to Christmas. Each Sunday carries a distinct theme—reflected both in Scripture and in the candle lit on the wreath:

• First Sunday of Advent – Hope
• Second Sunday of Advent – Peace
• Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) – Joy
• Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love

Candle Colors Across Traditions

Catholic parishes use three purple candles and one rose candle. Rose is traditionally used on Gaudete Sunday, the joyful midpoint of the season.

Many Lutheran and Episcopal congregations use blue candles instead of purple. The blue tradition emphasizes hope and expectation, and its use has grown across several denominations in recent decades. Both color traditions point to the same purpose: preparing the heart and the worshipping community for the coming of Christ.

In many traditions, a center white candle, often called the Christ Candle, is added and lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to symbolize the arrival of Christ, the Light of the World.

Who Lights the Advent Wreath?

Practices vary widely. In some churches, clergy or assisting ministers light the candle each Sunday. Others invite:

• A parishioner or family
• A small group of volunteers
• Children or youth group members
• A particular ministry team

Regardless of who participates, the candlelighting ritual becomes a shared act of worship—one that is easier to plan when it appears clearly on your MSP schedule.

Why Schedule Advent Wreath Lighting Volunteers?

Churches often coordinate this role informally. While that can work, adding it to your ministry schedule offers several advantages:

• Every service has a clearly designated individual or family
• Volunteers lighting the wreath receive automatic reminders, just like for other ministries
• Instructions, prayers, or scripts can be shared in advance
• Participation can be rotated fairly
• Staff, clergy, and sacristans no longer have to find someone at the last minute

For churches already using MSP, adding this role is a simple way to let your schedule reflect the full picture of worship during Advent.

Ways to Organize Advent Wreath Lighting in MSP

As your community prepares to light a new candle each week of Advent, here are some practical tips for staying organized throughout the season.

1. Name Your Advent Services Automatically

MSP can automatically name your services according to the Catholic or Episcopal liturgical calendar. This feature lets volunteers immediately recognize Advent services—"First Sunday of Advent," and so on—and helps the liturgical season stand out clearly in your schedule.

2. Add "Advent Wreath Lighting" as a Ministry

Creating a ministry for Advent Wreath Lighting gives the role a visible place among the rest of your worship ministries.

A simple setup might include:

• Ministry name: Advent Wreath Lighting
• Positions: One per service on the four Sundays of Advent
• Qualifications: Anyone you wish to invite into this seasonal role

The MSP Help Center provides easy step-by-step guidance for adding a new ministry.

3. Attach Candle-Lighting Notes or Prayers

MSP allows you to attach notes and resources directly to services. These can include:

• The blessing or prayer for each Sunday of Advent
• Notes for clergy or assisting ministers
• Instructions for candle-lighting volunteers
• Accessibility considerations for children or elders

These resources appear right inside the schedule, so volunteers are prepared before they arrive.

4. Choose a Scheduling Method That Fits Your Community

Two approaches work especially well for the seasonal role of Advent Wreath Lighting:

Self-Signup:
If your parishioners enjoy signing up for special volunteer opportunities, you can open the Advent Wreath Lighting ministry for volunteers to choose their Sunday. This works well if you've identified a broad group for the ministry.

Auto-Scheduling:
If travel and holiday plans make availability unpredictable, auto-scheduling allows MSP to honor each volunteer's "can't serve" dates and distribute the role fairly each Sunday of Advent.

Either option ensures the role is covered at every service without last-minute scrambling. Check out Ministry Scheduler Pro's free webinar replays for more Holiday Scheduling Tips.

Honoring Tradition with Thoughtful Planning

The Advent Wreath invites the whole church into a meaningful preparation for Christmas. MSP can help you plan the candlelighting roles with care, clarity, and reverence for the season.

If you're new to Ministry Scheduler Pro, Advent is the perfect time to start your free trial.