Completely human, not just a human appearance. Advent is a reminder that during this God is still present and is going to make sure we know that by becoming human like us.
We have been sheltering in place now for a long time. For instance, what is hope right now, right in this place? Or write in your journal about what the candle meanings say to you. Just light that candle and say the prayers. Let me remind you that if you have one candle you can use any service you might find in the Episcopal Church Book of Occasional Prayers. The third candle, if you have an Advent set, symbolizes joy and is the candle that is a different color, white or pink. The first candle you light symbolizes hope. Some say prayers and blessings as they light a candle on the wreath each Sunday. The circle of candles indicates God’s unending love and eternal life. Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life as the evergreen is continuously green. The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839, so it is a relatively recent addition to the season. Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It gradually developed into a season that stretched across the month of December. This began as early as the 4th and 5th centuries as a time of fasting and prayer for new Christians. “Advent” means “arrival” or “coming.” The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word “adventus,” meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word “parousia.” Advent today is a time of anticipation and expectation of the birth of Christ. This material comes mainly from, which is a fine site to visit.Īdvent is a time of expectation and hope. Here is some background about Advent itself. There is a very long tradition of lighting the candle and saying the Lord’s Prayer so, while we want you involved in Advent as much as possible, whatever you can do ascends like incense to God. If you want to dim the lights, light the candle, and sit quietly, that is a fine prayer to God. You should not feel you have to use any extensive or expensive systems to light your Advent Candles. The variety of ways to commemorate the Sundays in Advent is extensive.īut always remember this: all these practices are for you, not you for them. The parts that are most appropriate for our private Advent Candle lighting are here:
#Episcopal book of occasional services pdf files download
The Book of Occasional Services is available for download in its entirety. Official Resources from the Episcopal Church are available for you.
Here are some recommendations for Advent in your homes.