The
four Sundays preceding Christmas Day comprise the
season of Advent, which means "coming" or "arrival".
As Christians remember the story of the birth of
Christ into the world on that first Christmas Eve,
these four weeks have traditionally been a time to
prepare for the arrival of Jesus into people's lives
in a new way. Advent is not a penitential season like
Lent, but rather a time of hope and joy, as we
anticipate Emmanuel, "God with us" and all that
means.
From a spiritual
perspective, it is a time when we can reflect on our
lives and see what it is that we are being
asked to give birth to.
- What new ideas and
understandings are you working on?
- What do you need to
incorporate into your life to bring about peace,
healing, joy, satisfaction, prosperity...
Advent is the perfect
time to do some spiritual stocktaking. By Christmas
and the arrival of New Year, we can celebrate the
understandings and blessings that we have
received!
The
Advent Wreath
A meaningful tradition
is to make a wreath from evergreen and have a little
prayer as you light a candle each Sunday in Advent.
This is a lovely ceremony to do at home and can be
done just before dinner as a form of grace.
It is believed that
the symbol of the lighted wreath goes back to the
pagan fire wheel which was lit at the end of the
harvest season. The huge rolling flaming wheel was
also a symbolic harnessing of fire at Winter Solstice
when nights were long and warmth was vital.
For Christians, the
four candles encircling the white Christ candle serve
as a wonderful way to prepare for the birth of the
baby Jesus. As more candles burn Sunday by Sunday,
there is a visual reminder of the increase of the
light, culminating in the Christ light, the Light of
the world. The wreath itself can be made of evergreen
branches (keep it spritzed with water), a symbol of
eternal life, and the circular shape speaks of the
fact that in Christ there is no beginning or end:
alpha and omega.
Three candles are
traditionally purple, a royal colour, originally
marking Advent as a penitential time of preparation.
Many churches have changed their liturgical colours
from purple to a beautiful blue. in keeping with the
excitement and anticipation of welcoming a child into
the world. Blue has always been associated with Mary,
so it is only fitting that as we walk the journey to
Bethlehem with her and Joseph, we should be mindful
that without young Mary's acceptance and willingness
to carry out God's plan, it would have been a
different story!
The third candle on
the wreath is pink, the colour of love. Some
communities now place the pink candle in the fourth
holder. It makes no difference and we suggest you
place it where it resonates most happily. The centre
candle is white, the colour of purity and
divinity.
Here are some
suggested prayers you may use with your wreath.
Prayers for the
Advent Wreath
Copyright 2007,
The Very Rev. Deborah Vaughan
First Candle - The
Candle of Hope (we are just uploading now, so let's
begin at week 2)
Second
Candle - The Candle of Peace
Leader: Last week we
lit the candle signifying hope. May this flame (light
candle 1) dispel the doubt and darkness in our hearts
and minds, and serve as a reminder that with God all
things are possible.
This week, we light
the candle of Peace. As we light this candle, may we
invite thoughts of peace to flood our minds. Let us
hold the image of peace, the feeling of peace and the
prayer of peace to echo throughout the world, and to
fill our lives. Let us not focus on the lack of peace,
but the fulfillment of peace now carried on the wings
of angels, delivered by Love itself. (light the
candle)
Let us pray: God of Peace, we give you thanks that in
you there is only light, only hope and joy. As we
prepare our hearts for the coming of the Prince of
Peace, may we be peace in your world.
Amen.
All: May we know
peace in our hearts, peace in our homes and peace in
our world. Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, may we be
peace in the world.
Third
Candle - The Candle of Love (Pink
candle, option 1)
On the first week of
Advent, we lit the candle of Hope (light candle) and
we give thanks for the many blessings that have come
to us by focusing on the wondrous ways that God works
in our lives. Last week, we lit the candle of Peace
(light candle) and we promised to pray peace and thus
be instruments of peace in the world. This week we
light the Candle of Love.
Love was the creative
force at the beginning. Love is the animator of all
that we do. Love is the motivator of our lives, and in
Love, we live and move and have our being. Without
Love, there is no thing. As we light this candle, we
celebrate the love that we have in our life and we
pray that all would know that they are supremely loved
by the Creator of all. We celebrate that Love came to
us at Christmas in Jesus, who teaches us that the
focus of all that we do is indeed about love: Love of
Creator, each other and ourselves.
Let us pray: God of
Love, we are your children; your beloved. May we
always know that there is nothing that can separate us
from you and your love, and as we await the birth of
the child in the manger, may we let Love fill us and
restore us. Amen
All: May we know
love in our hearts, love in our homes and love in our
world. Emmanuel, bearer of Love, may we be love
in the world.
Fourth
Candle - The Candle of Joy (Pink
candle, option 2)
We light again the
Candles of Hope, Peace and Love. (light candles) This
week, we light the candle of Joy.
Joy is the lightest of
words. It speaks to us of happiness and celebration.
It signifies an end to strain and stress. When we have
joy in our life, we move through the day with a smile
and a grateful heart. Joy is the recognition of how
many blessings are showered upon us in every moment by
our loving Creator.
As we light this
candle, let us remember Mary and the joy that she
experienced. Joy was what Mary felt as she said yes to
the Angels' message. Joy wass what she felt as she
held Jesus in her arms that first time. When there is
joy, there can be no fear. Joy is our faith given
wings. Like Mary, our joy is supported by God's
constant "yes" to us.
Let us pray:
Joybringer, you are Creator of all. As we look with
joy to the birth of Jesus, may we always have
lightness of heart and joy in our journey.
Amen
All: May we
know joy in our hearts, joy in our homes and joy in
our world. Emmanuel, Bringer of Joy may we be joyful
in your world.
The
Last Candle - The Birth of Christ
Christmas Eve or
Day
We have journeyed
through these weeks, anticipating this day with hope,
peace, love and joy. This night (day) we give thanks
for the mystical wonders made known to us. A choir of
angels; awestruck shepherds; a place to stay for a
tired couple; the cry of a baby in the stillness of
the night . A miracle for us to ponder. Heaven and
Earth meeting in the manger. We light this candle as
we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the work of Love
made known that night. And on this night, we offer our
own hearts to the work of Love made known in
us.
Let us pray: God of
all creation, all the earth resounds with your glory.
We give you thanks for the gift of Jesus and his
advent into our lives. Emmanuel. God with us. God in
us. God around us. God before us. May we know the gift
that is offered to each of us. May we truly come to
know and understand the message he was born to share.
Amen
All: May we know
Christ in our hearts, Christ in our homes and Christ
in our world. Emmanuel, embodier of the Good News, we
celebrate your birth with the choirs of angels on
high. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
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