Advent 

Advent is the start of the Christian Year and runs from the fourth Sunday before Christmas to the end of Christmas Eve. This year it starts on November 30th. 

Advent is a time of expectation and hope filled with rich traditions. Advent means arrival or coming and it prompts us to pause each day in December and remember why Jesus came at Christmas. 

One of the Advent traditions is the Advent Wreath. The advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of a cartwheel. He placed twenty small red candles and four large ehite candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.

Eventually, the advent wreath was created of evergreens, symbolising everlasting life in the midst of winter and death as the evergreen is continuosly green. The circle reminds us of God's unending love and the eternal life He makes possible. Additional decorations, like holly and berries are sometimes added. The red colour of the berries points to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, shedding His blood for our sins.

The advent wreath is a symbol of the season, with a candle lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. The final candle in the centre is lit on Christmas Day. The light of the flickering candle flames reminds us who Jesus is: " In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:4-5). Advent candles shine brightly in the midst of the darkness, symbolising and reminding us that Jesus came as Light into our dark world. 

The first candle symbolises HOPE and is called the Prophet's Candle. The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah's arrival. 

The second candle represents FAITH and is called Bethlehem’s Candle. Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem,
which is also the birthplace of King David.

The third candle symbolises JOY and is called the Shepherd’s Candle. To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced that Jesus came for
humble, unimportant people like them, too. 

The fourth candle represents PEACE and is called the Angel’s Candle. The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace--He came to
bring people close to God and to each other again.

The fifth candle represents LIGHT and purity and is called Christ’s candle. It is placed in the middle and is lit on Christmas Day. This candle
is white to represent pure light and victory. 

(The information about Advent wreaths and the candles is adapted from CROSSWALK.COM)

Click on the advent prayers page to be taken to prayers for each of the Sundays in Advent.