More Advent Wreathing
In my last article, I quipped that for many people the primary focus for Advent is simply the Advent wreath. However true this may be, it's easy to see why. Advent wreaths are always prominently placed, and often there is some sort of ceremony involved in lighting the candles (although we have no such ceremony here). In many places (though, again, not here), specific symbolism or story-telling is attached to each individual candle. These practices vary greatly from place to place, but the fact remains—the Advent wreath in itself is a major liturgical fixture that carries strong meaning. Such meaning can come from the teachings we've received through stories or symbols associated with the wreath or from the solemnity of its surrounding rituals. For those of us who grew up with advent wreaths in church or at home, it holds cherished memories of persons and times gone by.
It would be fair to say that, as Rector, I have rather "downplayed" the role of our Advent wreath in our liturgy. This is in reaction to my sense that it is definitely overplayed elsewhere! In contrast to wreaths of elaborate designs and highly conspicuous locations, you will note the simple beauty of our wreath (understated but nonetheless strong), placed not where it might claim pride-of-place but where it works best in terms of function and practicality. As I noted above, we don't use special rituals or symbols in
lighting the candles because I'm cautious about the Advent wreath becoming the dominant focus of the season. And, as I wrote last time, I want to avoid the "countdown to Christmas" that the wreath might imply since that cheats the theology and messages of Advent as a season-unto-itself.
Now (better late than never?), I have to admit that maybe the best way to avoid the wreath being a "countdown" would precisely be to use some special teachings and symbols associated with each candle (and, of course, one way to do that effectively would be to have a "ceremonial moment" when lighting the wreath)! Either I've just pulled a flip-flop that would befuddle John Kerry or I've been rather unthinking and slow to the point. My solution is to teach one aspect of Advent's multi-layered theology with each candle (thus observing Advent in itself, instead of by association with Christmas). Still though, I don't want us to over-do it. For now, I'll simply suggest an association you should bring to each candle as it is lighted (we'll print each one in the announcements insert of the bulletin). These are the "real" themes of Advent Sundays; I've based them on the Gospel readings from year to year.
Advent I: The Second Coming of Christ—Christ will come again. We are to live each day in this conviction.
Advent II: Repentance—We name our sins and know that God will cleanse us of them as we change our lives.
Advent III: Witness—Christ brings the reign of God to us, and He is the ultimate expression of life. We show whether or not this is really true for us through what we do and say!
Advent IV: The Blessed Virgin Mary—Of all the human race, she who stood in so intimate a relationship with the incarnate son of God on earth must have the place of highest honor in the eternal life of God and thus in our devotions.
NOTE: Here at All Saints' we use three purple candles and a blue one on our Advent wreath. I doubt that you have seen this elsewhere. Usually, there are three purple and one rose-colored. It is also quite common to see four purple candles (and, increasingly, all blue ones). Blue was our original color for Advent (dating back to the 13th century). The practice of using a single candle of different color first arose to mark the third Sunday of Advent, when seasonal disciplines were relaxed and the Scripture readings were less severe in tone. This does not apply to our worship any more, and now it is on the fourth Sunday that the Scriptures change in tone. Since using a different-colored candle is meant to distinguish an Advent Sunday that has a special "sense," it would properly be for the fourth Sunday. I've chosen blue not only because it is an Advent color but also because Advent IV is "Mary Sunday" and blue is the color Western Christianity uses for symbols of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Faithfully,
Shannon+
