About Advent
During Advent we prepare for the coming of Christ.
As a child on that First Christmas.
Into our daily lives in word, sacrament and in those around us
At the end of time in glory to judge the world.
The Advent Wreath
From the Lutherans of northern Europe, the Advent Wreath usually consists of an evergreen wreath with five candles, one for each week of Advent and one for Christmas Day.
The circle of the wreath reminds us that God's love and mercy are endless, eternal and surround us, while the evergreen of the Advent Wreath reminds us of God's love surviving even in the midst of winter and the hope of returning Spring which God brings us each year. Sometimes we use different greens to signify different aspects of the season. Ivy reminds us of the human spirit clinging to God's strength. Cedar reminds us of the eternal life available through Christ. Holly reminds us of Jesus' crown of thorns. Bay reminds us of Jesus' victory over sin and death. The lights of the Advent candles remind us that "Christ is the Light of the World" (John 1:1-14).
In Europe the candles are usually ordinary red or yellow candles. In North America, we use one pink, one white and three purple candles around the wreath to match the liturgical colours of Advent. In recent years we have attempted to distinguish between the solemn observances of Advent and the more austere observances of Lent and so the use of blue candles instead of purple is becoming more common.
The Advent wreath is normally lit immediately before the evening family meal each day. It is normal to precede the lighting of the candles with a short prayer appropriate to the week. Advent booklets are available in the Narthex during the Advent Season.
The blue candle of HOPE is lit the first Sunday of Advent.
The blue candle of PEACE is lit the Sunday week of Advent.
The pink candle of JOY is lit the third Sunday of Advent.
The blue candle of LOVE is lit the fourth Sunday of Advent.
The white CHRIST candle is lit on Christmas Day and the week following.
The daily use of the Advent wreath helps to set this season apart from the rest of the year and helps us individually and as a family to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
The Advent Calendar
Another way to mark the days in Advent is an Advent Calendar. These calendars usually have twenty-four doors to open to reveal a picture or small piece of chocolate. Most store-bought advent calendars are heavily secular, however, it is still possible to find calendars that have Christ and the manger as their main theme.
Online Advent Calendars:
The Jesse Tree
A Jesse tree is an Advent tradition which helps us trace the lineage of Jesus. It can be either a banner or a poster (using the colour of Advent as the background) on a wall, with symbols fastened to it; or a tree, with symbolic ornaments hung from the branches to remember important people from the Old Testament.
Originally, each ornament on the tree represented a messianic prophecy from the Old Testament. This tradition from the Middle Ages reminds us that our belief grows out of deep roots of thousands of years of ancestors in faith. It comes from the words "A shoot shall come out of the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots." (Isaiah 11:1)
There are many symbols you can use to create a Jesse Tree (Online Jesse Tree). Here is a sample Jesse Tree Calendar:
Date | Persons | Events/Themes | Scripture | Symbols |
First
| Introduction of the Jesse Tree | 1 Sam 16:1-13
Isa 11:1-10 | The Tree | |
Mon
| God | Creation | Gen 1:1-2:3 | Dove or Sun/Moon/Stars |
Tues
| Adam and Eve | The First Sin | Gen 2:4-3:24 | Tree with Fruit, Apple and Snake |
Wed
| Noah | The Flood | Gen 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17 | Ark, Rainbow |
Thur
| Abraham | The Promise | Gen 12:1-7, 15:1-6 | Field of Stars, Tent, knife |
Friday
| Isaac | Offering of Isaac | Gen 22:1-19 | Ram |
Sat
| Jacob | Assurance
of the Promise | Gen 27:41-28:22 | Ladder |
Second
| Joseph | God's Providence | Gen 37, 39:1-50:21 | A Sack of Grain, Coat of many colours |
Mon
| Moses | God's Leadership, 10 Commandments | Exod 2:1-4:20, 19:1-20:20 | Burning Bush, Stone tablets |
Tues
| Israelites | Passover
and Exodus | Exod 12:1-14:31 | Lamb |
Wed
| Joshua | The Fall of Jericho | Josh 1:1-11, 6:1-20 | Ram's Horn Trumpet |
Thur
| Gideon | Unlikely Heroes | Judg 2:6-23, 6:1-6, 11-8:28 | Clay Water Pitcher |
Fri
| Samuel | The Beginning
of the | 1 Sam 3:1-21, 7:1-8:22, 9:15-10:9 | Crown |
Sat
| Elisha | Spirit of Healing | 2 Kings 5:1-27 | Dove |
Third
| David | A Shepherd
for the People | 1 Sam 16:1-23-17:58,
2 Sam 5:1-5, 7:1-17 | Shepherd's Crook, crown, Harp |
Mon
| Elijah | The Threat
of False Gods | 1 Kng 17:1-16, 18:17-46 | Stone Altar |
Tues
| Hezekiah | Faithfulness and Deliverance | 2 Kng 18:1-19:19, 32-37 | An Empty Tent |
Wed
| Isaiah | The Call to Holiness | Isa 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7 | Fire Tongs with Hot Coal |
Thur
| Jeremiah | The Exile | Jer 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:1-11 | Tears |
Fri
| Habakkuk | Waiting | Hab 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19 | Stone Watchtower |
Sat
| Nehemiah | Return
and Rebuilding | Neh 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22 | City Wall |
Fourth
| John the Baptist | Repentance | Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-207:18-30 | Scallop Shell, Water Jug (washed away sins) |
Mon
| Mary | The Hope
for a Future | Luke 1:26-38 | White Lily |
Tues
| Elizabeth | Joy | Luke 1:39-56 | Mother and Child |
Wed
| Zechariah | Anticipation | Luke 1:57-80 | Pencil and Tablet |
Thurs
| Joseph | Trust | Matt 1:19-25 | Carpenter's Square, Hammer |
Fri
| Magi | Worship | Matt 2:1-12 | Star or Candle |
Dec 24 | Jesus | Birth of the Messiah | Luke 2:1-20 | Manger |
Dec 25 | Christ | The Son of God | John 1:1-18 | Chi-Rho Symbol (X with a P through the middle of it) |