Advent by Candlelight
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Advent by Candlelight ▫
“Prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40: 3)
What is Advent by Candlelight?
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What is Advent by Candlelight?
The purpose of Advent by Candlelight is to set aside a special time to prepare our hearts for the true meaning of Christmas, the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior, into the world and into each one of our souls. The evening combines an inspirational message with practical applications, music, fine food and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our practice was to bring in a big name speaker for this event but that is not necessary. The most important thing is that the speaker is a faithful Catholic and spreads the true Catholic Faith.
EXAMPLE OF POSSIBLE PROGRAM TIME FRAME
3:30 p.m. - Tour of the Tables
4:00 p.m. - Vigil Mass
5:00 p.m. - Social time at beautifully decorated tables
6:30 p.m. - Proceed to sanctuary
6:50 p.m. - Reflection by guest speaker
8:00 p.m. - Dessert & Coffee
8:45 p.m. - Silent Auction ends and winning raffle tickets are drawn
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List of Recommended Speakers and Musicians
Press the black button to see my list of recommended speakers.
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Gift Basket Raffle & Silent Auction
There is typically no charge for the evening, but one of the purposes of Advent by Candlelight could be to raise money for an important cause. The funds raised would be used to cover the expenses of Advent by Candlelight and the remainder could be used for, as an example, to bring in other renowned speakers throughout the year, and also for supplies and scholarships for retreats and other parish activities. This has been done effectively through a Gift Basket Raffle & Silent Auction.
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Hosts & Hostesses
A host/hostess is a person who reserves a table for 8-12 people and agrees to decorate it with a table cloth and anything from paper plates to the finest china.
Each table is assigned a Marian devotion table name and a table number. Parish usually provides each hostess a packet that includes a 5 X 7 image of Our Lady as she appears in that devotion to display on the table.
Hostesses usually invite friends and family as guests to sit at their table. Each guest brings an appetizer to share with the other guests at the table.
Number of tables available depends on the size of your parish or facility.
Hostesses make this evening so special because of the love, hospitality and service they offer to the guests at their table. Press the black button below to read an example of hostess guidelines and/or of how to reserve a table.
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Register for this Event
Press the black button below and you will be taken to an example of a registration form for this event. It is not necessary for guests to have been invited by a hostess to attend. There are usually several hostesses that leave room at their tables for people who register this way.
REVIEWS/TESTIMONIES
Alec MacDougall - Holy Trinity Parishioner
“This is a wonderful annual event for the whole parish: good food, great friends, fabulous speakers, perfect atmosphere. People invite their family and friends to join them for a home cooked meal at the church. The church provides rooms with tables and chairs plus decorations, and each table host decorates their own table(s) for those they have invited, and prepares the sides for a meal for them. Many people also bring wine to share with their table.
Each table, or set of tables, becomes a private party nestled among, and sharing the excitement of, the other parties around them; and since most are from the same parish, the fun at each table is shared with those around it.
But the event is more than a party. It is also a Faith Formation event with a rebound guest speaker who usually makes their presentation between dinner and dessert. In fact, during dessert the speaker often visits individual party tables so that they can actually meet those attending.
In some ways it is like a Faith themed dinner theater with back stage passes to meet the actors. It is a great parish fellowship and faith formation event.
But that’s not all. Parish Faith Formation classes also get involved. Each class puts together a themed gift basket to be auctioned of during the dinner by silent auction. The baskets are named and pictures of them with their descriptions are published in the parish bulletin each week. This not only enhances the advertising of the event, it also generates another level of excitement during the dinner and enhances the parish involvement of faith formation classes.
This is truly a whole parish event. ”
George Spiers - Former Holy Trinity Parishioner
“I've since moved out of state, and I adore my new parish; but if there's one thing I really miss about Holy Trinity in Peachtree City it's the professionalism and competence of the lay staff management. From top-notch adult formation classes (you could be in a different class seemingly every night of the week) to staged special events, the culture at that parish can't be beat. My favorite event had to be the annual Advent by Candlelight. Beautifully decorated banquet rooms great food and festive atmosphere....and when the featured speakers are Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, .. what else is there to say?”
Get in touch
This is a wonderful event! We have always had great feedback about it. Each year we filled to capacity with not much advertising. If you would like more information about how to put this event on for your parish or other group, fill in the contact information below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
