Prayer stations
You might dedicate a space in your church to Advent books, images and prayer cards to encourage others to take part. Make it a welcoming space for anyone to pause and reflect.
At the end of Evening Prayer, those attending might move to a symbolic location (or ‘station’) in your church that reflects the antiphon’s theme. For example:
- 17 December – Wisdom: the altar/holy table
- 18 December – Adonai: the lectern/reading desk
- 19 December – Root of Jesse: the Christmas tree
- 20 December – Key of David: the church door
- 21 December – Morning Star: outside, to look at the stars or sun
- 22 December – King of the Nations: a foundation stone or arch
- 23 December – Emmanuel: the crib
At each station, you might light a candle, say (or listen to a sung version of) the antiphon together, and perhaps add a short prayer (like those suggested here).
Music
Explore the musical settings for using the antiphons at Evening Prayer.
The Church of England has also commissioned new choral settings of the Common Worship translation of the antiphons from a range of contemporary composers:
- Philip Moore, O Wisdom (O Sapientia – 17 December)
- Sarah Cattley, O Adonai (O Adonai – 18 December)
- Thomas Hewitt Jones, O Root of Jesse (O Radix Jesse – 19 December)
- Tamsin Jones, O Key of David (O Clavis David – 20 December)
- Esther Bersweden, O Morning Star (O Oriens –- 21 December)
- David Ogden, O King of the Nations (O Rex Gentium – 22 December)
- Bernadette Farrell, O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel – 23 December)
The RSCM has produced sheet music for all seven new settings - together with traditional plainchant settings of the Common Worship translation. The Advent Antiphons: New Musical Settings is available now from the RSCM Shop.
Preview all seven new antiphons and find links to streaming platforms here.
Watch the new antiphons performed on YouTube.
Westminster Abbey’s website features an informative page exploring the Advent antiphons, with links to free video performances of the traditional plainsong settings in both Latin and English.
As well as being available on streaming platforms, the new recordings will feature in a new album of music for Evening Prayer from Advent to All Saints from St Martin's Voices and Andrew Earis in autumn 2026.
Prayer group
Encourage your group to meet regularly to discuss the preceding three to six days. Share how the reflections are shaping your understanding of Advent. Pray for the challenges that arose to you this week.
Have one person each day to share a brief insight or personal application from the day’s devotional; encourage members to share prayer requests related to the day’s theme.
You might want to use or adapt some of the ideas about music and worship above to shape a time of quiet reflection and prayer at the end of the session.