What is Advent?
Advent begins the first day of the church calendar and is a four-week period that helps
prepare our hearts for the coming of Baby Jesus
In Latin, "adventus" means "coming". As Christians, Advent is a time of expectation and preparation as we focus on the coming of Christ in human form, but also await his second coming.
There are many traditions that come with the Advent season. Suggestions on how you can prepare for the coming of Christ are:
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read a daily Advent devotional
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buy and use an Advent calendar
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share the good news of the coming of Christ
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create and light an Advent wreath at home
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What is the Advent Wreath? The Advent Wreath, an arranged circle of evergreens, is a symbol of unending love and eternity. It is adorned with five candles – 3 purple, 1 pink, and one white. A candle is lit each Sunday during Advent. Candles are lit in the following order:
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1st Sunday of Advent, the first candle is lit, the purple candle of Hope. The prophet Isaiah tells us of the coming of the Messiah.
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2nd Sunday of Advent, the first and second candles are lit. The second candle, also purple, represents Faith. It is a reminder of Mary’s and Joseph’s travels to Bethlehem.
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3rd Sunday of Advent, the first, second and third candles are lit. The third candle is pink and is a symbol of Joy. This Sunday is filled with Joy because we are reminded the faithful have reached the midpoint of Advent in anticipation of the birth of Jesus.
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4th Sunday in Advent, we light four candles, including the final purple candle, the candle of Love. It is to remind us to Prepare, Pray, be Penitential, and wait for the coming of Jesus.
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5th Sunday of Advent, the fifth and final candle is white and is lit on Christmas Eve along with the previous four candles. The white candle is called the Angel Candle or the Christ Candle and represents Peace and a message from the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.” This candle is in the middle of the wreath and helps us remember to keep Christ in the Middle of our lives. When all the candles are lit, we celebrate and feel the light, love, and presence of Baby Jesus and we are filled with Hope, Faith, Joy, Love, and Thanksgiving!
A prayer for Advent: O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ; Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (BCP p. 212)
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