Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Common Worship lectionary readings for Fourth Sunday of Advent in Year A, the liturgical colour, and what changes in the order of service.

Year A · Advent · purple

Year AAdventpurple

The readings

Citations follow the Revised Common Lectionary as used in the Church of England's Common Worship principal service lectionary. Verse numbering can differ very slightly between Bible translations.

The liturgical colour

Purple marks the two preparatory seasons, Advent and Lent: penitence, restraint, waiting. On this Sunday the colour is purple.

What changes in the service

The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted through Advent and restored at Christmas.

In SundayHQ this is the advent template shape. You set your order of service once; when the season turns, one click applies the seasonal change and leaves the rest of your parish's own wording alone.

Hymns that fit these readings

Suggestions matched to the readings above, each with the reason it was chosen:

• Opening — O come, O come, Emmanuel The Advent hymn; sets the whole season's key
• Gradual — Long ago, prophets knew Isaiah's Emmanuel sign, fulfilled in Matthew's annunciation
• Offertory — Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us Quiet Advent preparation at the table
• Communion — Let all mortal flesh keep silence Advent stillness; Christ coming to his own table
• Final — Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding Wakefulness, carried into the week

When it next falls

Year A comes round every three years. The date moves because the whole calendar hangs off Easter.

The same Sunday in the other years

Questions