Advent prayers for each week: hope, peace, joy and love (2026)
Advent is the four weeks before Christmas, and in 2026 it begins on Sunday, November 29. Many churches give each week a theme, marked by lighting one more candle on an Advent wreath: week 1 hope, week 2 peace, week 3 joy, week 4 love, and the Christ candle on Christmas Eve. Below is a prayer for each week (one for the wreath and one to pray alone), the Bible readings, a short reading for every day of Advent, and a simple way to light the wreath with your family.
Advent 2026 at a glance
| Sunday | Week | Theme | Candle |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 29 | First Sunday of Advent | Hope | 1st purple (or blue) |
| December 6 | Second Sunday of Advent | Peace | 2nd purple |
| December 13 | Third Sunday of Advent | Joy | Pink (rose) |
| December 20 | Fourth Sunday of Advent | Love | 3rd purple |
| Thursday, December 24 | Christmas Eve | Christ has come | White Christ candle, in the center |
Churches differ. Some put love second and peace fourth; some name the candles the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherds and Angels candles; some use all blue. None of it is commanded in Scripture, so follow your church's custom. The prayers below work with any order.
What is Advent, and why pray through it?
Advent means "coming." For four weeks Christians remember how God's people waited for the Messiah, celebrate that he came at Bethlehem, and look forward to his return. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2, WEB) is the season's whole story in one line.
Praying through Advent gives the busiest month of the year a quiet center. The shopping, the parties and the travel still happen, but ten minutes a day keeps your attention on the one the season is about. "Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don't know when the time is" (Mark 13:33, WEB), from the first Sunday's Gospel reading this year, is the season's instruction.
Week 1: hope (November 29 – December 5)
Sunday readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, used by many Protestant churches): Isaiah 64:1–9; Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19; 1 Corinthians 1:3–9; Mark 13:24–37.
Isaiah opens Advent with a cry: "Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down" (Isaiah 64:1, WEB). Hope in the Bible isn't wishful thinking. It's confidence that God will keep his promises, even before you see it.
Wreath prayer for the first Sunday
Lord God, we light this first candle for hope. Your people waited in the dark for a Savior, and you kept your word. We wait too: for Christmas, for answers, for Jesus to come again. Fill us with hope this week. "Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved." In Jesus' name, amen.
(The last line is Psalm 80:3, WEB, from this Sunday's psalm.)
A personal prayer for the week of hope
Father, I bring you the things I've stopped hoping for. [Name them.] I've grown tired of waiting. Remind me this week that you are not slow concerning your promise. Teach me to wait for you the way Simeon and Anna did: watching, praying, expecting. "May the God of hope fill [me] with all joy and peace in believing." Amen.
(2 Peter 3:9; Luke 2:25–38; Romans 15:13.)
Week 2: peace (December 6 – December 12)
Sunday readings: Isaiah 40:1–11; Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13; 2 Peter 3:8–15a; Mark 1:1–8.
"'Comfort, comfort my people,' says your God" (Isaiah 40:1, WEB). John the Baptist calls people to "make ready the way of the Lord" (Mark 1:3, WEB). The peace Jesus brings starts with peace with God, and it spills over into peace with others.
Wreath prayer for the second Sunday
Prince of Peace, we light the second candle for peace. You came to bring us back to God and to each other. Quiet our hurried hearts. Where our home is tense, bring calm. Where we've hurt someone, help us make it right. Prepare the way in us this week. Amen.
A personal prayer for the week of peace
Jesus, you said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives." I confess the world's version hasn't worked: my lists, my control, my worry. I hand you this week's calendar and the people on it. Guard my heart and mind with your peace. And show me one person I need to make peace with before Christmas. Amen.
(John 14:27; Philippians 4:7.) If this season stirs up worry, our prayer for peace of mind walks through Philippians 4 step by step.
Week 3: joy (December 13 – December 19)
Sunday readings: Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11; Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b–55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24; John 1:6–8, 19–28.
The third Sunday is traditionally the joyful one, which is why its candle is pink. Mary sings, "My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46–47, WEB), and Paul writes, "Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks" (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, WEB).
Wreath prayer for the third Sunday
God our Savior, we light the pink candle for joy. "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad." Thank you for good news of great joy for all people. Let our home be glad this week, not because everything is easy, but because you are near. Amen.
(Psalm 126:3; Luke 2:10.)
A personal prayer for the week of joy
Lord, joy is hard for me this year. [Tell him why.] Thank you that your joy isn't the same as being cheerful. "Those who sow in tears will reap in joy." Let me rejoice in you even while I wait for the rest. And thank you that you rejoice over me with singing. Amen.
(Psalm 126:5; Zephaniah 3:17.) Christmas can be lonely or painful, especially after a loss. Our prayer for strength during difficult times has prayers for grief and long seasons.
Week 4: love (December 20 – December 24)
Sunday readings: 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16; Luke 1:46b–55 or Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26; Romans 16:25–27; Luke 1:26–38.
The angel tells Mary she will bear a son, and she answers: "Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38, WEB). The whole season comes down to this: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son" (John 3:16, WEB).
Wreath prayer for the fourth Sunday
Loving Father, we light the fourth candle for love. You loved us first, and you sent your Son. As Christmas comes close, help us love one another the way you love us: patiently, generously, and without keeping score. Let your love reach someone through our family this week. Amen.
(1 John 4:10, 19.)
A personal prayer for the week of love
Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. Like Mary, I want to say yes to you. Here I am. Let it be to me according to your word. Make room in me for you, more room than the inn had. And give me your love for the people I find hardest to love this Christmas. Amen.
(Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:38; Luke 2:7.) Our guides on how to pray for someone and how to pray for your children help you love people in prayer this week.
Christmas Eve: the Christ candle (December 24)
Read: Luke 2:1–20. On Christmas Day, John 1:1–14.
Lord Jesus, we light the Christ candle. You are the light of the world, and "the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it." Thank you for coming as a baby, for living our life, for dying our death and rising again. "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." Come into our home tonight, and come again soon. Amen.
(John 1:5; Luke 2:14.)
A daily Advent reading for each day
Five to ten minutes: read the passage, light the candles for this week, pray the week's prayer or a sentence of your own.
| Date | Read | Date | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: hope | |||
| Sun, Nov 29 | Isaiah 64:1–9 | Thu, Dec 3 | Romans 15:4–13 |
| Mon, Nov 30 | Isaiah 2:1–5 | Fri, Dec 4 | Psalm 25:1–10 |
| Tue, Dec 1 | Isaiah 11:1–10 | Sat, Dec 5 | Mark 13:32–37 |
| Wed, Dec 2 | Jeremiah 33:14–16 | ||
| Week 2: peace | |||
| Sun, Dec 6 | Isaiah 40:1–11 | Thu, Dec 10 | Luke 1:68–79 |
| Mon, Dec 7 | Micah 5:2–5 | Fri, Dec 11 | John 14:25–27 |
| Tue, Dec 8 | Isaiah 9:2–7 | Sat, Dec 12 | Mark 1:1–8 |
| Wed, Dec 9 | Psalm 85 | ||
| Week 3: joy | |||
| Sun, Dec 13 | Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 | Thu, Dec 17 | Luke 1:39–45 |
| Mon, Dec 14 | Psalm 126 | Fri, Dec 18 | Philippians 4:4–7 |
| Tue, Dec 15 | Zephaniah 3:14–20 | Sat, Dec 19 | Luke 1:46–55 |
| Wed, Dec 16 | Isaiah 35:1–10 | ||
| Week 4: love | |||
| Sun, Dec 20 | Luke 1:26–38 | Wed, Dec 23 | John 3:16–17 |
| Mon, Dec 21 | Matthew 1:18–25 | Thu, Dec 24 | Luke 2:1–20 |
| Tue, Dec 22 | 1 John 4:7–12 | Fri, Dec 25 | John 1:1–14 |
Before you read, a one-line prayer helps: "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things." Our guide to prayer before reading the Bible has twelve more.
How to light the Advent wreath with your family
A wreath is four candles in a circle of greenery, with a fifth white candle in the middle. Any four candles and a plate will do. Here is a 10-minute order for the dinner table or the living room, with parts so everyone joins in.
- Gather and dim the lights. Leader: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." Everyone: "Come, Lord Jesus."
- Light the candles. A child lights this week's candle and the ones before it (with help). Say the theme together: "We light this candle for hope."
- Read. The day's passage from the table above, or the Sunday Gospel. Older children can take turns reading.
- Ask one question. "Who was waiting in this story?" "What did God promise?" "Where do we need peace this week?"
- Pray. The wreath prayer for the week, then each person adds one sentence.
- Sing one verse. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" fits every week of Advent; "Joy to the World" on Christmas Eve.
- Blow out the candles. Leader: "The light shines in the darkness." Everyone: "And the darkness has not overcome it."
Short is better than perfect. Five minutes most nights beats an elaborate service you give up by December 8. Our evening prayer for family has more on praying together at night, with blessings for children by age.
Advent prayers for kids
- Week 1, hope: "Dear God, thank you that you keep your promises. Help me wait for Christmas with a happy heart. Amen."
- Week 2, peace: "Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. Help me be kind and make peace with my brothers and sisters. Amen."
- Week 3, joy: "God, thank you for the good news of Jesus. Fill our house with joy. Amen."
- Week 4, love: "Thank you, God, for loving us so much that you sent Jesus. Help me love others like you do. Amen."
- Christmas Eve: "Happy birthday, Jesus. Thank you for coming to be with us. Amen."
Let children choose the reader each night, light the candle with help, and keep a paper chain: one link per day, torn off after the prayer.
When Advent feels too busy
December fills up fast. A few ways to keep Advent prayer when it does:
- Pray one verse, not a passage. On a crowded night, light the candle, read the Sunday verse from this guide, pray one sentence.
- Move it to the morning. If evenings are taken by parties and concerts, pray the week's personal prayer with your first coffee. Our morning prayer to start your day is a good partner.
- Catch up without guilt. Missed three days? Don't read four passages tonight. Pick up at today's.
- Pray in the car. The week's theme is a one-word prayer: "Lord, give me hope." "Give us peace."
- Give something up. Advent has long been a quiet season. One evening a week without screens makes room.
If you'd like a guided ten minutes each day, read aloud and written out, our free day 1 starts with a Psalm and a prayer: play day 1 free.
From Thanksgiving to Advent to Lent
Between Christmas and Lent comes the turn of the year: our New Year prayer for family has a 15-minute New Year's Eve prayer time with parts for kids. Advent starts three days after Thanksgiving, which makes the two a natural pair: gratitude for what God has done, then waiting for what he has promised. If you prayed through our thanksgiving prayers, carry that list of thanks into the first week of hope. After Christmas and Epiphany, the church year's next season of prayer is Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027; our 40-day Lent prayer challenge gives a plan for every day. Some Christians keep a small fast in Advent or Lent; our guide on how to pray when fasting has a plan for the day and prayers for when hunger hits.
Common questions
What are the four themes of Advent?
Most often hope, peace, joy and love, one for each Sunday. Some churches use a different order or name the candles after the prophets, Bethlehem, the shepherds and the angels.
When does Advent start in 2026?
Sunday, November 29, 2026, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The four Sundays are November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20.
Why is the third Advent candle pink?
The third Sunday is the joyful Sunday of Advent. Its rose color marks a lighter note in a quiet, watchful season. Churches that use blue candles often keep the pink one for the same reason.
Is Advent biblical?
The season isn't commanded in the Bible; the church developed it over centuries. But its themes are thoroughly biblical: waiting for the Messiah, preparing the way, and watching for Christ's return. Many Protestant churches keep it for that reason.
What do you say when you light the Advent candle?
A short verse and a prayer for the week's theme. For example, on the first Sunday: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. We light this candle for hope," followed by the wreath prayer above.
Can I keep Advent alone?
Yes. Light one candle at your desk or kitchen table, read the day's passage, and pray the week's personal prayer. It's a quiet ten minutes in a loud month.
Write the four Sunday dates in your calendar tonight, and put four candles where you eat. If you'd like a daily prayer plan that carries on after Christmas, answer a few questions to build your 40-day prayer plan. More in our prayer guides.
Sources
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org. Sunday readings: Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, Advent 2026 (Vanderbilt Divinity Library, lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu; Church of the Brethren lectionary table). Pages read for this guide: Bible Study Tools, "Powerful Advent Prayers to Pray Throughout the Weeks of Advent"; Christianity.com, "Advent Prayers for 2026 to Prepare Your Heart for Christmas"; Dynamic Catholic, "Advent Wreath Prayers".