Liturgically Speaking
Liturgically Speaking—What is the meaning of the Season of Advent and why do we use an Advent wreath?
Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for the Episcopal Church as well as for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day (November 28th this year) and ends on Christmas Eve. The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival” and the Advent season focuses on the birth of Jesus the Christ (his first Advent) as well as on the anticipation of the return of Christ the King (his second Advent). In this dual focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and congregations as they affirm that Christ has come, is present in the world today and will come again in power.
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, anticipation, preparation and longing. It is the celebration of a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all creation might be reconciled to God. The Scripture read during Advent focuses on themes of accountability, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. While some church traditions, such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches, focus on fasting and penitence during Advent, a different emphasis for the season of Advent has gradually unfolded in much of the rest of the church, including the Episcopal Church. The season of Advent has come to be celebrated more in terms of expectation or anticipation. Rather than a time of mourning and fasting, Advent is celebrated as a time of joy and happiness as we await the coming of the King.
Historically, the primary liturgical color of Advent is purple, the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. The purple of Advent is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death; the Incarnation cannot be separated from the Atonement. A number of churches, however, have begun to use the color blue to distinguish the season of Advent from Lent. Blue symbolizes royalty as well as the night sky, the origin of the announcement of the King’s coming, and the waters of Genesis, the beginning of a new creation.
Advent wreaths, circles of greenery with five candles, are used in churches and homes for devotional purposes. The circle of the wreath reminds us of God’s eternal and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath is a symbol of the hope that we have in God. The candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of Jesus. The wreath has four outer candles representing the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent and one inner candle. Three of the candles are purple or blue, corresponding to the liturgical colors of Advent. One of the purple candles is lighted on the first Sunday of Advent; on subsequent Sundays, previous candles are re-lighted and an additional one is lighted. The candle for the Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally pink or rose and symbolizes joy at the Advent of the Christ. On Christmas Eve, the center candle, which is white and is called the “Christ Candle,” is lighted. The central location of this candle reminds us that the Incarnation is the central focus of the season, giving light to the world.
Prayers for the Lighting of Advent Candles:
The First Candle:
Come, O Holy One, as the morning light after a wakeful night!
Keep us mindful that at any moment you may ask of us an accounting of our lives;
help us to love you and love one another in all we do, and so clothe us with your light
that we may bring others to love you also; through Jesus our Saviour. Amen.
The Second Candle:
Come, O Holy One, as the water of life and refiner’s fire!
Strengthen us with courage for your work of justice
that in all the creation and among every people your peace may be established
and your joy abound; through Jesus our Deliverer. Amen.
The Third Candle:
Come, O Holy One, breaker of chains and renewer of life!
Open our eyes to your presence in all the earth.
Stir us to proclaim gladly the signs of your love:
the liberation of those oppressed, the healing of those frail and broken,
springs of water in all the parched places,
and Jesus Christ risen and alive, through whom we pray. Amen.
The Fourth Candle:
Come, O Holy One, as the beloved child, Emmanuel!
Soften our hearts and open our arms for your coming
that we may make this a place worthy and warm,
kindly and safe for all your children; in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Source: Gleanings: Essays on Expansive Language and Prayers for Various Occasions. (2001) Edited by Ruth A. Meyers and Phoebe Pettingell. New York: Church Publishing Inc.
The Ven. Rose Bogal-Allbritten, Deacon
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