Why Advent?

Can you feel the world speeding up? December seems to have a level of frenetic energy that makes it easy to forget “the reason for the season.” Marking the season of Advent is the perfect way to push back that sense of busyness in favor of a little room to wait and watch for the annual remembrance of the coming of Jesus into our lives.

The sanctuary has been transformed into an Advent wonder. I can’t wait for you to see it (in person or online). Thank you to the crew who stayed to make the joyful transformation last Sunday! I encourage you to make an effort to come each week to see the progression of how the Advent candles move us from darkness into the Light of Christ. There is power and goodness in gathering together for prayer and community. We are better together.

Join us tomorrow (after the 8:00 and 9:30 services) for an Advent Wreath Workshop. A few of your fellow parishioners have gathered to learn how to guide you into making a lovely wreath for daily use in your home.

A little more about the meaning of the Advent Wreath -

It is fashioned in a circle as a symbol of the everlasting love of God.
Evergreen branches are used to remind us of our new life in Christ. Even in the “dead” of winter, there is life.
Four candles (three blue and one pink) help us mark the weeks of the season.
Blue is the color of prayerful waiting and pink is the color of rejoicing. We light the pink candle on the third Sunday as a way to have a holy “seventh inning stretch” and celebrate a bit in the midst of waiting.
Each week has a theme. Consider using the weekly word as the focus of your prayer.

Week One - Hope

Week Two - Peace

Week Three - Joy

Week Four - Love

Place the wreath in a central location in your house and use it as a daily gathering place for prayer, meals, and conversation. There is something beautiful about being present to light as the darkness of the season continues.
To keep the light going, consider replacing all the colored candles with white ones and continue to light the wreath during the Twelve Days of Chrismas.

P.S. - Some of you might remember a time when the colors of Advent were purple and pink. As penitential seasons, both Advent and Lent were once marked with the color purple. Through time, we have recognized the tone of the waiting is different in those seasons so it should be communicated visually too.

Love and Light,

Emily +

The Rev. Emily E. Given