You don’t have to have it figured out.
Christian, curious, unsure, or simply here for a quiet moment—you are welcome. Join the conversation or just listen. Prayer and singing are invitations; you can always pass.
We share Jesus by listening with care, offering friendship freely, and making room for each person’s story.
A simple rhythm
Five minutes to arrive. Five to read and light a candle. Ten to reflect together. Five for prayer or quiet. Five to share a small act of kindness for the week.
Advent traditionally follows four Sundays; our gatherings bring that rhythm into the workweek. We’ll use three purple candles and a pink candle for Joy, adding one light each week. About this Advent tradition.
Hope
Light the first purple candle.
Read together Isaiah 9:2–7 ↗
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.”Isaiah 9:2 · KJV
God’s promise begins with light in a dark place. Christians hear in Isaiah’s promised child the hope fulfilled in Jesus: God has come near, and darkness does not have the last word.
A question to sit with
Where could you use a little hope right now?
Gathering guide & short prayer
Share the light
Offer each person a candle set and reading card to take home. Invite them to name one hope for this season, aloud or silently.
Pray, or take a quiet moment
Jesus, meet us in our waiting. Give us hope, and help us bring encouragement to someone else.
Carry it into the week
Encourage someone who is carrying uncertainty.
Peace
Light Hope, then the second purple candle.
Read together Luke 2:1–7, 13–14 ↗
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”Luke 2:14 · KJV
Jesus enters the world in the vulnerability of a newborn. The angels announce peace, inviting us to receive God’s presence and make room for gentleness in our own relationships.
A question to sit with
What would making room for peace look like this week?
Gathering guide & short prayer
Share the light
Relight Hope and add Peace. Leave a full minute of quiet, then invite conversation in pairs; listening is always enough.
Pray, or take a quiet moment
Prince of Peace, quiet our anxious hearts. Teach us to listen well and to care for one another.
Carry it into the week
Give someone your unhurried attention.
Joy
Light Hope and Peace, then the pink candle.
Read together Luke 2:8–20 ↗
“I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”Luke 2:10 · KJV
The first invitation to visit Jesus goes to shepherds at work. Their joy is good news to share, a reminder that God’s welcome reaches ordinary people in the middle of ordinary life.
A question to sit with
What small goodness have you noticed lately?
Gathering guide & short prayer
Share the light
Relight Hope and Peace, then add Joy. Share one gratitude and sing “Joy to the World,” with room to simply listen.
Pray, or take a quiet moment
Jesus, help us notice your goodness. Hold those who are grieving, and let our joy make room for them too.
Carry it into the week
Share a small kindness with a colleague.
Love
Light Hope, Peace, and Joy, then the last purple candle.
Read together John 1:1–5, 14; 1 John 4:9–12 ↗
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”John 1:14 · KJV
Christmas celebrates God’s love made present in Jesus. The Word becomes flesh and shares our human life. Receiving that love invites us to love one another in concrete, everyday ways.
A question to sit with
Who could feel more welcomed through a small act of love?
Gathering guide & short prayer
Share the light
Light all four Advent candles. Share a Christmas reflection, offer individual candles, and close with “Silent Night.” Use LED candlelight if gathering indoors where flames are not permitted.
Pray, or take a quiet moment
Jesus, God with us, thank you for coming near. Let the love we receive become the welcome we offer.
Carry it into the week
Offer practical help to someone, with no expectation in return.
A small gift to carry home
Give a little light.
Offer a set at the first gathering, with four words—Hope, Peace, Joy, Love—and a short invitation to pause at home. Make it a gift, freely given, whether or not someone joins the series.
Our pick for sharingAdvent tea lights with worded holders
$8.95 for a set of four · about $2.24 each
The Catholic Company’s set includes three violet tea lights and one rose, with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love on the holders. It’s a compact gift that already carries the four words.
View the $8.95 set ↗Listed in stock when checked September 13, 2026. A set for 25 households is $223.75 before tax and shipping. Arrange the purple candles to match our Hope, Peace, Joy, Love sequence.
Spend less: plain tea lights + our tags
Buy unscented tea lights in bulk, such as IKEA GLIMMA (100-pack), and package four with our printable word tags. The candles are plain; the tags supply the names.
Budget example, not a retailer quote: at $6 per 100-pack, four candles cost $0.24 per household, before holders, printing, packaging, tax, and shipping. Check your local store’s price.
Traditional tapers + word tags
General Wax’s four Advent tapers were listed at $7.25 per set: three purple and one pink. Pair with our tags and suitable holders.
Listed sold out when checked September 13, 2026; a restock option. These candles do not come with the words printed on them.
A reusable set for the shared table
Lights.com’s Infinity Wick worded Advent tapers are $52 for four LED candles with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in gold lettering. Better suited to one group display than bulk gifts. Eight AAA batteries are extra; confirm shipping availability before ordering, as the page showed a backorder notice.
Prices checked September 13, 2026; tax and shipping are extra and stock can change. Remove paper tags and ribbon before lighting. Use suitable heat-resistant holders, keep flames away from greenery, and use LEDs wherever open flames are not permitted.
Open printable candle tags ↗
✝And then, Christmas.
At our December 23 gathering, close with shared candlelight and “Silent Night” as we look toward Christmas. Offer a white candle or LED candle to each person, and let the light move around the circle.
At home on December 24 or 25, light an optional white Christ candle in the center of the four Advent candles. Read Luke 2:1–20 and celebrate Jesus, God with us.
Jesus, light of the world, may the love we receive become the welcome we offer.
No additional GCF gathering is scheduled for December 24 or 25.