Advent

The season of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. It is the time we get ready for Jesus' birth. A beautiful old hymn describes the ages-old sense of anticipation people embraced:

O come, O come Immanuel                                    
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice. Rejoice. Immanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

One of the most beautiful traditions of Advent is the lighting of the Advent Wreath. The Advent Wreath is a continuous circle of evergreens representing the ceaseless flow of time and our unending hope. The evergreens are a symbol of Christ, who became man that we might have Everlasting Life, and of God, who loves us endlessly.

The four candles spaced around the wreath designate the four eras during which the world waited for Christ. Three purple candles symbolize humility. The rose candle represents joy and happiness. All four symbolize hope which fills the Advent season. The pure white candle is the center of the wreath and symbolizes the Christ Child.

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