For two decades, women across the country have gathered for a simple but powerful Advent tradition: a laity-led candlelight service that brings communities together in worship. Brenda Stone brought this service to her church, then helped churches across her state create their own versions of this special event. She and Laura Heikes share how you can gather a small team to bring this meaningful tradition to your own community.
Twenty years ago, Brenda Stone’s daughter attended an Advent service that made such an impact, this daughter called her mother and said, “You need to do this at your church!” The next year, Brenda gathered a group of laity and helped her church host the service. It was so popular that the next year, they began sign-ups. A few years later, the waiting list had hundreds of names!
Instead of finding a bigger venue, Brenda and her team helped two churches in town host their own lay-led, female-focused Advent services. And they kept sharing the idea, year after year. Twenty years in, this group of women have helped dozens of lay teams and churches offer this worship service. As Brenda says, “ministry is meant to be shared!” Below are five suggestions that will empower a team of three to five women to host a laity-led candlelight service this Advent.
You need a team!
Gather a group of three to five laywomen to help. One of the members of your team will recruit speakers. You want to find three to four women who will share their story of faith in about five to seven minutes each. Look for a variety of women from various churches and fields of experience. Encourage the entire team to brainstorm speakers, then reach out and recruit.
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Another volunteer will line up the musicians or song leader. See if you can recruit these women from a church or faith community other than those of the speaker and host church. A final person (could be part of church staff) will cover the facilities, custodians, sound, AV, lights, etc. And an optional fourth and fifth member can coordinate and arrange nursery, childcare and registration, and work on publicity and photo-taking, respectively.
Pick a date and publicize.
Most churches hold Advent by Candlelight worship on the first Monday evening of Advent. You can pick your own date, but if that Monday works, you’ll be worshipping with thousands of women across the country!
Once you’ve picked a date, get the word out. This can be inexpensive—use social media for posts, create a Facebook event, write an email and invite those interested to forward it. The more people share, like, and comment, the more the word will get out. Utilize other free news sources in your town: events pages, radio stations, and Nextdoor groups are a few ideas. You can also make flyers and quarter-sheet invitations that your church folks can take and share with friends and neighbors to get the word out. Consider using church and community newsletters, radio, and TV announcements as well.
Make it ecumenical.
Advent by Candlelight is a community worship service, so invite women from across your town to lead. Typically, speakers are lay women: teachers, judges, medical workers, lawyers, engineers, tax accountants, municipal leaders and professors who have stories to tell. Musicians, readers, and candle-lighters should ideally be drawn from a variety of faith communities. If you have female pastors in your town, consider inviting them to do the welcome, prayer, and/or benediction. Let lay women do the speaking parts!
Offer translation.
If you live in a community that is bilingual, grab or borrow translation equipment and recruit a translator. On your publicity, note that translation will be offered. Sing songs in both languages, one verse in English, one in the second language. When there is a prayer or call to worship, print the translation on the screen for all to see.
You can also find a sign language interpreter to translate the service into sign. If using sign language, pick one simple hymn and sign it together, with prompts. Be sure to send special invitations to women in the deaf and hard of hearing community so they can worship with you.
Take pictures.
Be sure to share this beautiful service with the community as a follow-up to the event itself. Task one person with taking pictures to capture the joy of the service. Cell phones can work very well for this. Choose someone with an eye for composition and let them focus on capturing the beauty of the service—singers, candle-lighting, speakers, responses.
Post the best images, reels, and short videos on social media following the event and leading up to the one you’ll have the next year. Tag those whose faces you know. Provide photos to participants so they can share in their home church.
Consider offering this worship service online via livestream and video (be sure to make your speakers and leaders aware beforehand) so that those who don’t drive at night, live at a distance (or are men!) can also attend.
Advent by Candlelight is more than a beautifully lit service—it’s a reminder that ministry thrives when it’s shared. You don’t need a big budget or a staff-led program—just a few women willing to gather, plan, and invite. With a small, dedicated team and a heart for meaningful worship, your church can create a space where women connect, reflect, and celebrate the season together. Don’t worry about perfection; focus on creating an atmosphere of warmth, faith, and community. You never know whose heart might be touched—or who will be inspired to share the light next.
Sample Order of Worship
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Hymn/Song
Opening Prayer
Hope
….• Bible Verse & Lighting Candle (Hope)
….• Story of Hope
….• Hymn/Song of Hope
Peace
….• Bible Verse & Lighting Candle (Peace)
….• Story of Peace
….• Hymn/Song of Peace
Joy
….• Bible Verse & Lighting Candle (Joy)
….• Story of Joy
….• Hymn/Song of Joy
Love
….• Bible Verse & Lighting Candle (Love)
….• Story of Love
….• Hymn/Song of Love
Candle Lighting Instructions
Silent Night
Joy to the World
Benediction
Postlude
Related Resources
- Traveler’s Christmas Eve Service by Jessica L. Anschutz
- 10 Tips for Hosting a Live Nativity by Lindsay Peyton
- Add Off-Site Christmas Eve Services This Year by Mack Strange
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