December, 2002 In This Issue: The Corazon Mission, Young People and Stewardship Spring Women's Retreat Planned Goodbye Stuff... Advent: Standing on Tiptoe Reflections from St. A's Parish Retreat Weekend Santa Claus is Coming to Town! The NYA Gifting Tree

O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; rulers stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. (Vespers antiphon)

by The Rev. Joyce Stickney

Advent is upon us. Every year I am delighted when this season of hope, anticipation, and waiting arrives. It is as if we are standing on tiptoe, eagerly awaiting, peering, and leaning forward to see...

In the words of Paul Tillich, "our time is a time of waiting; waiting is its special destiny. And every time is a time of waiting, waiting for the breaking in of eternity. All time runs forward. All time, both history and in personal life, is expectation. Time itself is waiting, waiting not for another time, but for that which is eternal" (The Shaking of the Foundations, 1948).

The season of Advent, which begins the Christian year, represents four thousand years of waiting on the part of the Hebrews for the promised Messiah. The word Advent is derived from the Latin word, Adventus, meaning "coming." In Advent, we celebrate the coming of Christ in three ways. First, the anticipation and remembrance of the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. Second, the receiving of Christ into our lives and hearts, God incarnate in us. And third, the anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ.

Advent dates back to the 4th Century and was originally forty days. In the 7th Century, the Western Church limited the season to four weeks, as it remains to this day, beginning before or after the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day (November 30). The liturgical color is dark blue (the color of a winter sky), symbolizing the Virgin Mary and the hope of God's people who trust the unfailing Lord.

In Luke's gospel, the angel Gabriel, the whole creation, even God, all held their breath as they wait upon the answer of a girl. She replies with faith, "be it unto me according to thy word." Mary pondered these things in her heart and countless generations have pondered them with her. As the mysterious one inside her grew larger, she wondered. Who would this child be? What would be the impact of this one life?

As we wait with Mary and one another, may we ready ourselves for the birth of Jesus. By drawing near to the gentle glow of the candles in the Advent wreath, we prepare our hearts for God's revelation (see Home Advent Wreath Ceremony following this article).

Home Advent Wreath Ceremony

Advent begins Sunday, December 1st. Advent wreaths can be purchased at Cotters Church Supplies (for more information, call 800-446-3366) or most art supply stores like Michael's.

Blessing of the Wreath:

Parent: Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
Family Members: Who made heaven and the earth.
Parent: Let us pray: O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth your blessing upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from you abundant graces, through Christ our Lord.
Family Members: Amen.
S/he makes the sign of the cross over the wreath. Then the youngest child lights the first candle, and the prayer for the first week of Advent is said.
Parent: Let us pray: Stir up your might, we beg you, O Lord, and come, so that we may escape through your protection and be saved by your help from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins. We pray to you who lives and reigns forever.
Family Members: Amen.

During the first week one candle is left burning during the evening meal, at prayers or at bedtime.

Two candles are lighted on the second Sunday and allowed to burn as before. The prayer for the week is:

Parent: Let us pray: O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for your only-begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve you with pure souls, through the same Christ our Lord.
Family Members: Amen.

Three candles, including the rose candle, are lighted on Guadete, the third Sunday, and during that week. The following prayer is said:

Parent: Let us pray: We humbly beg you. O Lord, to listen to our prayers; and by the grace of your coming bring light into our darkened minds, you who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Family Members: Amen.

All four candles are lighted on the fourth Sunday and allowed to burn as before.

The prayer for the fourth week is:

Parent: Let us pray: Stir up your might, we pray you, O Lord, and come; rescue us through your great strength so that salvation, which has been hindered by our sins, may be hastened by the grace of your gentle mercy, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Family Members: Amen.

Christmas Worship: December 24, 2002 Children's Mass 5:30 p.m. Candlelit "Midnight Mass: 10:30 p.m.

On Christmas Day, the purple and rose candles are replaced with all white candles, the greenery refreshed and the wreath decorated with flowers, etc. for Christmastide (end on 12th night, Jan. 6th) All white candles are lit at mealtime or bedtime and the Collect for the Nativity is said: Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten son to take our nature upon him, and to be born (this day) of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP pg. 213)

History of the Advent Wreath:

German in origin - it was taken, so we are told, from the pagan fire wheel - the Advent Wreath represents the cycle of thousands of years from Adam to Christ during which the world awaited the coming of a Redeemer. It also represents the cycle of years since then that we have been awaiting Christ's second and final coming in glory. It bears four candles, equally spaced, three purple ones to be lighted on the "penitential" Sundays, and a rose colored one for Gaudete, the joyful third Sunday in Advent. Candles may be replaced as needed during the season.

(Family Advent Customs by Helen McLoughlin, the Liturgical Press c. 1954)

Copyright © 2002 St. Augustine by-the-Sea