An introduction to Advent season
Trinity Anglican Church 929 11th St, Marysville, CA
The text of this can also be found at trinity.anglican.center
(From our 2022 Worship Guide)
The new liturgical year begins with the First Sunday of Advent Season, a season of expectation and inward reflection as the Church prepares to celebrate the first advent (coming) of Christ our Savior at his Incarnation (Christmas), while anticipating his second coming as King and Judge at the end of time. During Advent Season the scripture lessons and liturgy don’t merely direct us toward Christ’s birth, they also challenge our modern reluctance to confront the theme of divine judgement at the end of the ages, but always with the element of hope that the one who judges, is also the one who saves. The liturgical color of Advent is the penitential, introspective, muted purple of Lent; but the tone of Advent is more of a sober watchfulness than strict penitence—our Deliverer and Judge is coming, and we must be ready!
The lighting of candles on an Advent wreath was a custom imported into Britain from northern Europe in the nineteenth century. It is now a common practice in the U.S. as well. [The wreath—whether made from greenery or other materials—supports four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent. Any color may be used, but, usually, three of the candles are muted purple (the color of penitence) and one is rose-colored (pink.)] During the Middle Ages, the Third Sunday of Advent came to be known as “Rose Sunday,” so a rose-colored candle is lit to suggest an increasingly hopeful anticipation of the coming of Christ. On Christmas, a white candle is placed at the center of the wreath, and lit, to signify that Jesus has finally come.
There are a variety of traditions about the meaning of each candle. The one that correlates with the themes of our Advent lessons is:
First Sunday of Advent - The Patriarchs
Second Sunday of Advent - The Prophets
Third Sunday of Advent - John the Baptist
Fourth Sunday of Advent - The Virgin Mary
Christmas Eve/Day - The Christ
Each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas features those in scripture who figure prominently in the first coming of Christ. “The Patriarchs” remind us of the promises and warnings given to the Old Testament fathers of our faith— the houses of Jacob, Israel, Judah, and David. “The Prophets” give us an opportunity to reflect on the rapturous Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. “John the Baptist,” is the New Testament prophet proclaiming the imminent coming of Christ. “The Virgin Mary,” is the pure vessel ready to receive Christ, and who, by birthing him gives us the opportunity to receive him as well. Each week, the prayer at the lighting of the Advent Candle will reflect these important themes.
Historical information adapted from Advent, a resource guide for the season published by the Church of England.