Deep in the Heart of Advent

For those of us observing an Extended Advent, we are now in the heart of the season.  I think that one of the great benefits of this expanded observance is that the extra days give us a true opportunity to meditate on the dual emphases of Advent.  The overwhelming attention of most folks is on a movement toward Christmas Day.  Even people who can engage Advent in a free-standing way still are pulled toward Bethlehem and the manger.

But, stir another three weeks into the mix and it is also time sufficient to think on the eschatological (things dealing with the end of time, judgement, the Second Coming) accent of this period as well.  The gospel Readings from the Revised common Lectionary (RCL) have dealt with the destruction of the Temple, the Passion of Jesus and the misguided nature of attempting to calculate the moment of the End-Times.  There will be dreams and angels soon enough, but the church reminds us that this season has size, it is a time of depth and breadth.

Extended Advent also encourages us not to be in a hurry.  If four weeks seems to move slowly, almost double that time may make us feel that the clock is standing still.  But, as it gives us enough time to do things properly, completely, it will pass soon enough.

The peace of the Lord be with you.

The Advent Calendar

One of the more family-friendly customs of Advent is the Advent Calendar.  This is a calendar that offers a kind of countdown from the beginning of the season until Christmas Eve (or Christmas Day, depending on the calendar).  These come in all varieties of form.  The most common is made of stiff cardboard with small numbered doors that move a person through the season.  Behind the door there can be a short scripture quotation, or a seasonal picture or some other “surprise.” 

There are calendar units that have more substance.  They can be made of hardwood or other material, and the doors (or drawers) might contain tree ornaments, candy or other treats.

The custom dates back to the mid 1800’s where their use in Germany is well-attested.

Calendars that are used again and again frequently start on December 1.  Since the recent observances of Advent can begin as early as November 27 those calendars that are produced for use in a particular year include the latter days of November.  At one point, our family had a calendar that went through Advent and extended through the Twelve Days of Christmas and had Epiphany – January 6 – as its last door.  If our Extended Advent observance gains any momentum, maybe we will someday see a calendar that begins at the beginning of our seven-week celebration – on or near St. Martin’s Day (November 11).

Our family also has a home-produced calendar made of fabric that hangs like a banner.  There are pockets on the lower portion that contain small pillows with seasonal decorations.  The calendar itself is sewn on the hanging with the numbers 1 through 25 arranged in the configuration of a Christmas tree.  The numbers have a small hook and loop dot on them.  The pillows have the other half of the hook & loop and so can be easily attached to the calendar.

It is frequently the custom in families to have the children open doors or do whatever activity the particular calendar involves.

Sadly, but predictably, the custom is being overrun by the commercial market.  Once you went to a religious book house or store or a card shop to procure this year’s treasure.  Now there are Lego and Hershey’s kisses and Nintendo and Playmobile and every Disney character known to humankind versions of the calendars, and these are truly “Countdown to Christmas” items.

But I have hopes that the tradition, like the season, can be maintained in the hearts of those who see this season as a time of spiritual nurture rather than rank consumerism.

The peace of the Lord be with you.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Charles Wesley wrote over 6,500 hymns.  He went through a stretch in his life where he wrote a hymn per day as a devotional exercise.  We know that many of these hymns were quite lengthy.  Just for example, he wrote one hymn titled On the Anniversary of a Conversion that was eighteen stanzas in length.  Seventeen of these are printed in poetical form as #58 in The United Methodist Hymnal.  The middle six verses are printed on the previous page and has the more familiar title O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.

So, it is noteworthy that Wesley took a little two-stanza that he originally composed as a prayer based on Haggai 2:7:

and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendour, says the Lord of hosts.  (NRSV)

and published it as a hymn by and for the struggling poor, especially children living in poverty.

He first published it in Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord in 1744.  It has been a part of most Methodist hymnals and song-books since that date.

It is truly a prayer for the Second Coming and is most appropriate for this season.

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.

Psalm 117

          ¹ Praise the Lord, all you nations;

              extol him, all you peoples.

          ² For great is his love toward us,

              and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

          Praise the Lord.

The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) Psalter daily reading is Psalm 117.  It has the distinction of being the shortest chapter in all of scripture.  That does not make it insignificant.  It is a Psalm of invitation as well as praise.  In Advent, when we consider the coming of Israel’s Messiah who became the Savior of the whole world, we see a foretaste of God’s plan in this hymn.  It is not the few, or the many, but “all nations” and “all people” who receive the invitation to praise the One True God.  It is also the entirety of the human race to which God’s love and faithfulness are pledged forever.

Thanksgiving Day in The Advent Season

In a couple of days, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  It is important to say that this is a national holiday in the US, because other countries have thanksgiving traditions calendared on other dates, some of them far removed from the American observance.

On the other hand, Advent is a season that Christians all around the world embrace.  Not all Christian groups have Advent customs.  And, Advent moves around the calendar a bit depending on denominational traditions.  The length of the season is one that we are examining ourselves this year.

And Advent and thanksgiving are not at odds with one another.  They can easily coexist in our lives and in our festal calendar.  But, BUT, Advent is the church’s festival.  Thanksgiving is a part of the secular calendar. Some folks are bothered that there is an Advent wreath on the church’s worship center rather than an ear of corn and a cornucopia.  I might feel a little differently if Thanksgiving started in the church.  But I can’t remember the last time I attended (or heard of) a worship service in a church on Thanksgiving Day.  When I was a young child several of the congregations in our neighborhood – including my church -- held a joint worship service at about 10:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving, but that has long ceased being the practice.  I have pastored congregations that held services on Wednesday evening, but those, too, have slipped away.  Let’s be honest, the day is a day for parades, football games, family reunions and feasting to the point of gluttony.  I like parades.  I like football. I like getting together with family.  I love to eat the traditional fare of the day.  But let’s don’t deceive ourselves into thinking that a slightly longer table grace makes the day a Day of thanksgiving.

Meanwhile, we are desperately trying to rehabilitate this time of year in the name of the Advent of the Christ.  I’m sticking with the Advent Wreath.

The O Antiphon for the Third Week of Advent

The O antiphon for the week is:

O ADONAI, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flames of the bush and gave him the Law on Sinai:

Come, and with your outstretched arm redeem us.

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Adonai is an odd word for liturgical use, at least for Christians.  A form of it appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, but it is rare.  More common is the title for God’s use in Jewish liturgy.  As pronouncing the name YHWH (Yahweh?) came to be forbidden, substitutes were offered when the readings called for the word to be said aloud.  Adonai or less frequently HaShem ("The Name") were employed as replacements.

In modern Christian hymnody, the term Adonai is used along with a long list of Hebrew names and titles in the song El Shaddai, written by Michael J. Card & John W Thompson and popularized in the 1982 release by Amy Grant.

As the antiphon indicates, the title Adonai is associated with the stories of God’s liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and issuing the Covenant Law at Sinai.

Ruler of Nations

The reading for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath for the third Sunday of Advent is:

Leader: As our nights grow longer and our days grow short,

we look on these earthly signs--light and green branches--

and remember God's promise to our world:

Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Listen to these words from the Revelation to John:

“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had

conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the

sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of

Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

‘Great and amazing are your deeds,

Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways,

King of the nations!

Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

all nations will come and worship before you,

for your judgments have been revealed.’”

(Revelation 15:2-4)

Leader: Let us pray.

All: God of power and love,

you raised Jesus from death to life,

resplendent in glory to rule over all creation.

Free the world to rejoice in his peace,

to glory in his justice,

and to live in his love.

Unite all humankind in Jesus Christ your Son,

Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Extended Advent becomes Advent

Today concludes our second week of the Extended Advent observance.  You will notice round about you that others are catching up with us.  I don’t mean the retailers and other commercial enterprises.  As we have observed, they have been in the candy cane and reindeer business since before the weather got cold. 

But we see that other congregations are sort of “getting ready to get ready.”  While their sanctuary appointments may not be in place yet, we begin to see them publicize worship services and social gatherings related to the season.  Don’t hear this as a criticism at all.  But I hope, for those of us who have already been in the Advent business for a fortnight that the novelty of this time of year has worn off and instead that the deep significance of this time has begun to sink in.  We still have plenty of time.  But we find ourselves not preparing, but immersed.

the Advent Log

One of the lesser-known Advent traditions in this part of the country is the use of an Advent log.  It is just what it sounds like.  The base is a wooden log, usually rough-hewn.  In the picture on the top there are four candles, employing the lavender and rose configuration.  Some logs include a white candle, a Christ Candle, that is lit Christmas Eve.  The usage is the same as an Advent Wreath.  The second photo has a candle for each day of the season (in a four-week observance).  The white candles are lit progressively on Sundays, with the purple candles being lit on weekdays.

I have seen these employed as a seasonal appointment on a number of occasions, and as you can imagine, if one has the space to display such a feature it can be impressive by the time the season comes to its conclusion.

The Hymns of Advent

The hymnody of this season is distinct.  A few of the true Advent texts have become a part of the traditional Christmas repertoire, but only a few.  In point of fact there is a wealth of Advent music available to us for use in the early days of this season.

The United Methodist Hymnal includes a few:

Come, thou long expected Jesus        

Ye who claim the faith of Jesus

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord  

Merciful God, you sent your messengers the prophets                                             

People look east. The time is near     

Hail to the Lord's Anointed   

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel          

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light 

You are the light of the world

O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord

I want to walk as a child of the light 

Prepare the way of the Lord  

Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son         

Blessed be the God of Israel  

All earth is waiting to see the Promised One

O come, O come, Emmanuel

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates  

Savior of the nations, come

It is true that not all of these are toe-tappers.  Some are not familiar at all to a lot of present-day congregations, owing to their being overpowered by the traditional carols of the season.  But among these are some truly fine lyrics that do a great job of exploring biblical texts and seasonal themes musically.  We would do well to pay more attention to them.

Some of my favorite CDs for the season include ChristmasCarols at St. John’s and Evensong for Advent.  I apologize for the commercial nature of the links.  I also like The Advent Season by Lucia field on Spotify.

That to which our observance points

The Gospel Lesson from the Revised Common Lectionary’s daily readings is Matthew 23:37-24:14. That reading contains Jesus’ Lament over Jerusalem and then his prediction of the destruction of the Temple.  This latter section is sometimes titled the Little Apocalypse or the Olivet Apocalypse (as it was spoken by Jesus to his disciples while they were on the Mount of Olives).

Verses 24:4b-14 read:

‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.¹

It is not a very jovial passage.  But, in order fully to appropriate the significance of this season, it is necessary to remember that part of the emphasis of this time of the liturgical year is on the return of Christ in glory.  The New Testament maintains that this includes some unpleasantness.

Jesus pledges hope for those who endure.  But he does not promise an easy road.  May God grant us all the ability to endure to the end.

“In” or “of”?

While it is not the great theological issue or faith debate of our time, there is frequently confusion as to how to refer to the days that make up this season.  Is today the second Tuesday “in” Advent or “of” Advent?

The days contained within the season of Advent – including Sundays -- are known as the days of Advent.  So, today is the Second Tuesday of Advent.  The season consists of the entirety of the period beginning on the Sunday seven weeks prior to Christmas day and runs through December 24, inclusive.

Some of the misunderstanding stems, I am sure, from the association some people make between Advent and Lent.  These two seasons have at times been regarded as mirror images of one another.  So, many Lenten practices get mentally associated – if not actually linked – with Advent.  The same sometimes occurs as Advent traditions find some kind of correlation within the Lenten observance.

The season of Lent comprises the forty days prior to Easter Day but is exclusive of Sundays.  Church tradition holds that it is inappropriate to practice fasting or self-denial on a Sunday, because that is the day in which Jesus’ Resurrection took place.  So, every Sunday throughout the year is a kind of “little Easter.”  In that light, the church refers to the Sundays that occur during that stretch as Sundays “in” (but not “of”) Lent.

The Second O Antiphon

The O Antiphon for the Second Week of Advent reads:

O WISDOM, who came forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, and ordering all things mightily and sweetly

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

      Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Wisdom is not related to book-learning.  It is, biblically, an understanding of the way things work together, a comprehension of simple truths related to the way things are.  In Hebrew lore, Wisdom was personified before coming to dwell in the tents of the children of Abraham in the form of The Law.  Of all the requests that Solomon could have made when he ascended the throne of Israel, that for which he asked, and which pleased God the most, was the gift of wisdom.  That the Messiah is cast as wisdom fulfills the ancient hope of God’s people that this ancient, guiding force which has been withdrawn from  humankind for a season, might return as  an assurance of God’s re-establishment of Creation Order and the perfect will of God.

Lighting the Second Candle in the Advent Wreath

The reading for the lighting of the Advent wreath for this Sunday is:

Advent 2 – Lord

Leader: As our nights grow longer and our days grow short,

we look on these earthly signs--light and green branches--

and remember God's promise to our world:

Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Listen to the words of Ezekiel the prophet:

“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you;

and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful

 to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your

ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

(Ezekiel 36:26-28)

The connection here is found throughout scripture.  Those who love justice are the people whom God embraces and upon whom God bestows the greatest of mercies.  A new heard, a new spirit, following God's statutes and ordinances -- these are the signs of true covenant people.  These are folks who embrace The Lord as their singular God, and who are in turn the people entitled to the designation "the people of God."

A little Advent perspective

In Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church Laurence Hull Stookey writes:

If you were taught (that) Advent is primarily about the past expectation of the coming of the Messiah, consider instead this -- Advent is primarily about the future, with implications for the present.

It is one of the most difficult undertakings in the church: to break the stranglehold that our recent approach to Advent has on Christmas and to bring about the realization that Advent is a kettle that can stand on its own bottom.

Not only is it a free-standing observance, but it is a dedicated time of embracing that toward which the entirety of our faith points.  A lot of people treat the “holiday” of Christmas much the same as they approach New Year’s or Independence Day or Groundhog Day.  It is a time of some season-specific merrymaking and then it is past.  For the church it is a portion of the calendar in which we embrace a future in which Christ reigns in fullness.  The Return of Christ is the last chapter in the life of every Christian believer.  It is not directly related to anything that happens on December 25 of any given year.  And, when you look at the various customs and traditions of churches all over the world related to Christmas, you find that often they bear little resemblance to what is simultaneously taking place in other portions of the globe.  So, our trees and lights and carols do not directly relate to our end-time hope at all.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m going to sing the carols and eat the baked goods and all the rest.  When it is time.

  

Laurence Hull Stookey, Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church.  Nashville: Abingdon, 196, p. 158.

Daily Lectionary Reading for The First Friday of Advent

The Revised Common Lectionary has a daily reading component that is not as well known as the weekly listing.  The Old Testament reading for today is Isaiah 12:

You will say on that day:
I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
   for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
   and you comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
   he has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
   call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
   proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

It is also the basis for the beautiful First Song of Isaiah:

The O Antiphons

The O Antiphons were originally used by the church during the daily vesper services in the last seven days of Advent.  An antiphon is a short chorus or refrain the text of which comes from the Psalter.  These seven antiphons have come to be used in Advent services, particularly worship times other than the primary worship gatherings in Advent.  They are frequently part of Hanging of the Greens, Lessons and Carols and Candlelight services.  Each of the antiphons employs a different title for Christ.  The hymn/carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a paraphrase of the Antiphons.

Modern churches of many denominations employ the O Antiphons in a variety of ways in their worship services.  We are using them in our Calls to Worship.  This week’s O Antiphon is:

                                                                                                                                                          

O EMMANUEL, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the nations and their Savior:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

      Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Candles in the Advent Wreath

As was noted on the post for November 11, there is a variety of devotional material that the church (and households) use in centering its devotional thoughts around the Advent wreath.  But there is no historical uniformity or “proper” designation for the candles.  Individual authors of seasonal devotional material frequently give their own names to the various candles.  Schemes include One United Methodist resource that name the candles Hope, Joy, Love and Peace.  There are designations that attach titles to the Shepherds’ Candle, the Angels’ Candle¸ the Prophets’ Candle and the Candle of the Star.  Faith, Hope, Love and Peace or The Prophets' Candle, the Bethlehem Candle, the Shepherds' Candle, and the Angel's Candle.  Still other schemes include:

Hope–Peace–Joy–Love.

Faithfulness–Hope–Joy–Love.

Prophets–Angels–Shepherds–Magi.

And, as I say, there is no one “truly traditional” or “historically prevailing” position.  Indeed, the room for variation provides the church with room for flexibility and creativity (within reason) with the use of the wreath.

Now, as we move away from four candles and toward seven¸ re-interpretation becomes necessary. 

This past Sunday, this was the reading for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath. 

Advent 1 – Wisdom

Leader: As our nights grow longer and our days grow short,

we look on these earthly signs--light and green branches--

and remember God's promise to our world:

Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Listen to the words of Solomon:

“O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,

who have made all things by your word,

and by your wisdom have formed humankind to have dominion

over the creatures you have made,

and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,

and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,

give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,

and do not reject me from among your servants….

With you is wisdom, she who knows your works

and was present when you made the world;

she understands what is pleasing in your sight

and what is right according to your commandments.

Send her forth from the holy heavens,

and from the throne of your glory send her,

that she may labor at my side,

and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.”

(Wisdom of Solomon 9:1-4, 9-10)

A reminder about that to which our observance points

The Gospel Lesson from the Revised Common Lectionary’s daily readings is Matthew 23:37-24:14. That reading contains Jesus’ Lament over Jerusalem and then his prediction of the destruction of the Temple.  This latter section is sometimes titled the Little Apocalypse or the Olivet Apocalypse (as it was spoken by Jesus to his disciples while they were on the Mount of Olives).

Verses 24:4b-14 read:

‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.¹

It is not a very jovial passage.  But, in order fully to appropriate the significance of this season, it is necessary to remember that part of the emphasis of this time of the liturgical year is on the return of Christ in glory.  The New Testament maintains that this includes some unpleasantness.

Jesus pledges hope for those who endure.  But he does not promise an easy road.  May God grant us all the ability to endure to the end.

The colors of Advent

The liturgical colors that churches employ in the observance of Advent have become a point of contention in recent times.  Through the history of the church violet (or purple) has been a traditional color for the season.  In times when the church emphasized self-denial, fasting or penitence (as Advent was seen as a reflection of Lent, preparing for Christmas as Lent prepares for Easter in the theologies of the day) black was employed.  There is a long history of the use of blue in Advent, although the widespread display of this color waxed and waned through the centuries.  Blue is a color associated with Mary the Mother of Jesus in church iconography.  It is a representation of hope in the color palate of Christian symbolism.  The use of blue is enjoying a resurgence in recent years.  This is due in part to the re-defining of some Advent theologies by the Second Vatican Council in 1963.  Communions outside the Catholic community have adapted the Roman position and have embraced much of the current Advent thinking of Catholicism.  So, the fabric hangings that adorn our communion tables, lecterns and pulpits are blue in more and more churches.  Likewise, the stoles and other vestments that clergy wear during worship are more frequently blue in contemporary settings.

The color of candles in Advent wreathes is far from consistent.  Different geographical settings have (as might be expected) their own practices.  Northern European influence often results in candles that are all red on the outer ring of the wreath.  Many congregations that have recently established traditions use three violet (purple) candles and one rose candle (that is frequently misidentified as “pink.”)  Those not familiar with traditional church practices will often light the three violet candles on the first three Sundays of the season, and then light the fourth – rose – candle as a kind of “transitional” color between the solemn hues of violet and the joyful colors that we associate with Christmas.

In fact, the tradition of the rose candle is that it is lighted on the third Sunday of Advent.  You have to stay with me here: the lighting of the rose color on that day goes back to the time when Advent was thought to mirror Lent.  The third Sunday in Lent is Gaudete Sunday (GAW-di-tay).  It is a Latin term that we translate “rejoice.”  It is the initial word in the Catholic liturgy for that day.  On this occasion in medieval Catholicism, the Pope would give a golden rose to the favorites in his court.  So, on the third Sunday of Lent, the gift of a rose gave rise to the use of rose-colored fabrics in worship on that day as a kind of break in the solemnity of Lent.  As Lent influenced the observance of Advent, the rose color came to be associated with the third Sunday   of Advent.  Thus, the contemporary appearance of a rose candle in our Advent wreathes.   As this rationale has come to be rejected, a fourth violet candle frequently replaces the rose candle. 

Other wreathes use four blue candles, employing the imagery of that color that is also used in paraments and vestments.  The use of three blue and one rose candle has nothing historically or theologically to recommend it.  An extended Advent necessitates additional candles.  We will be using seven blue candles.

The Advent Wreath

One of the most visible objects in our traditional observance of Advent is the Advent Wreath.  This appointment contains several symbolic portions within the whole.  First, it is a circle.  It signifies the God who has no beginning and no ending.  Even though Advent is the initial season of the Church Year it is part of a recurring cycle that includes Christmas, the Season of Epiphany, Lent, Easter and the time after Pentecost.  As the cycle progresses over and over the church moves through the great events of the prophesy, birth, life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The wreath is comprised of evergreens that represent eternal life.  The use of evergreens in this season is a traditional affirmation of life.  In a time when most growing things die or lose their leaves, evergreens remain vibrant. 

Advent wreathes also feature candles.  There is a central Christ Candle and then there are candles – in the case of our celebration this year: seven – around the periphery of the wreath.  The church lights one candle on the initial Sunday of the season, then the original candle plus an additional candle on the second Sunday and so forth through the entire observance, so that on the last Sunday of Advent all of the outer candles have been ignited.

There are devotional traditional materials associated with each week’s candle. 

The First Sunday of Advent

Today we begin our observance of a season of Extended Advent.  “Advent” is a term that comes from the Latin “to come.”  It refers to a portion of the year that the church devotes to considering the coming of Christ into the world.  It has the dual emphases of looking toward the celebration of the entry of Jesus Christ into human history as well as the anticipation of Christ’s return for the final redemption of the world.

The traditional celebration is more than “getting ready for Christmas.”  It is a “kettle that sits on its own bottom.”  It has its own music, its own traditional liturgical material and its own theological emphasis.  The traditional season gets underway on the Sunday closest to St. Andrew’s Day (November 30) and continues through Christmas Eve. 

But, for reasons that we discussed yesterday, we are embracing an alternate model this year.  We call it Extended Advent.  It begins on the Sunday following All Saints Sunday (the first Sunday in November).  The first part of Extended Advent incorporates the traditional elements of the season.  But as the time moves on, we will include music and other accoutrements that we associate with the celebration of Christmas. 

The observance of this season dates back with certainty to the mid-fifth century.  Given its stage of development by this date the practice of keeping Advent almost certainly reaches back even further.  According to materials found in the website of The Advent Project,

In its origin, the season of Advent was nearly seven weeks. The Gregorian Sacramentary introduced a four-week Advent in Rome in the seventh century, but this truncated version of the season was not widely adopted in other western churches until the twelfth or thirteenth century. The Orthodox still observe a longer Advent, though in the eastern tradition Advent has not been viewed as the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year. By the time of the 16th -century western reformations, however, though few remembered that Advent had once been longer, the season was clearly fixed as the initiation of a new liturgical year and, in the face of no competition from the Christmas culture until the 20th century, its focus was clearly eschatological

This lengthened observance seeks to make a full, rich time that meets the worship needs of our people.  We will talk about many of the things that go into a meaningful celebration of this time in the days to come.

A different approach to the Season of Advent

Tomorrow our churches – and a few others – will begin its observance of Advent.  “Wait,” you say.  “Advent?  On the second Sunday in November?  What did I miss?”

It is true that most churches and denominations count Advent as beginning on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas day.  So, the season traditionally commences on the Sunday falling between November 27 and December 3.  The season can be 22 to 28 days in length.

So, why would our churches begin Advent a full three weeks early?  Some of the rationale involves an accommodation of popular culture.  That’s not the most high-road support for a liturgical decision to be sure.  But that is our starting point. 

Truth be known, the retail stores have been stocking “Christmas items” since the beginning of the school term.  With Halloween over, the sellers will now go into full Christmas mode. 

There are radio stations that are already playing 24/7 Christmas music.  People who do not have a rich liturgical tradition don’t even have a grasp of “Advent” at all.  For them, the weather gets cold and it is the “Christmas season.”

These folks want to sing Christmas Carols.  They want to hear the sounds and smell the smells.  People who are still inclined to send Christmas cards are already compiling their lists.  For the culture it IS – or soon will be – “Christmas.”

Now, the church can take a hard line and say, “It is Advent.  Or will be in another few weeks.  Advent will begin on December 1 (this year) and we will sing Advent hymns and Advent hymns only until Christmas Eve.”  The liturgical proponents can make a compelling case for insisting that Advent is a meaningful season that can stand on its own.  You can’t say that such a position is wrong.

But on the other hand, we must admit that this is not where people are.  If the task of the church is to meet people at their point of need, the observance of a traditional Advent actually places a barrier between the church and a lot of its members.  That is not a good place to be.

So, we are going to start tomorrow.  I hope that a full season that encompasses a variety of practices can make this glorious time of year a significant time for us all.