Advent Liturgy Planning Checklists

ADVANCE PREPARATION 

Six weeks before Advent (mid-October)

□   Finalise and distribute music selection for Advent to give musicians sufficient time to practice.

Four weeks before Advent

Liturgy committee finalises planning for Advent: 

□   missal and lectionary texts, 

□   environment and symbol, 

□   gestures and movement, 

□   times of silence, 

□   worship aids.

Two weeks before Advent

□   Schedule times of Christmas ceremonies and communal reconciliation.  

□   Finalise and distribute music schedule for Christmas to give musicians sufficient time to practice.

□   Prepare wreath or other Advent symbols.

□   Consider scheduling a blessing of all those who will be travelling over the holidays (see Book of Blessings, Pt 1, Ch 9).

□   Consider the implications of summer holidays for ministry rosters.  Find out who will be available.

One week before Advent

□   Clear everything superfluous from the sanctuary, nave and entrance of the church.

□   Invite contributions for Christmas hampers and prepare baskets for food donations and gifts for poor.

□   Explore the possibilities for outdoor Christmas decorations – banners, lights, decorations in trees, etc.

□   Set up the crib

First Week of Advent

□   Publicise the schedule of Christmas Masses on the parish bulletin and website, church doors and outdoor signs.

□   Recruit replacement ministers where necessary, especially greeters and hospitality ministers for Christmas Masses. 

Second Week of Advent

□   Prepare and distribute ministry rosters for the Christmas-New Year period. 

□   Liturgy committee finalises planning for Christmas Masses and the Christmas season: 

      - missal and lectionary texts, 

      - leaders’ orders of service

      - environment and symbol, 

      - gestures and movement, 

      - worship aids. 

□   Prepare for Communal Reconciliation– texts, leaders, readers, musicians

Fourth Week of Advent

□   Rehearse Christmas liturgies where necessary.

ADVENT 

First Sunday of Advent 

□   purple vestments and hangings.

□   blessing of Advent wreath and lighting the first candle.

□   consider sprinkling assembly as well as wreath. 

□   Advent Preface 1.

□   solemn blessing. 

Second Sunday of Advent 

□   purple vestments and hangings.

□   lighting of the second candle.

□   Advent Preface I.

□   blessing of travellers.

Third Sunday of Advent 

□   purple vestments and hangings.

□   lighting of the third candle.

□   Advent Preface I.

□   Communal Reconciliation in the following week.

Fourth Sunday of Advent 

□   purple vestments and hangings.

□   lighting of the fourth candle.

□   Advent Preface II.

□   include Christmas carols in music for Mass.

□   inaugurate the nativity scene in the church – blessing, prayer cards, lights.

□   erect outdoor decorations for Christmas.