Advent 2022 began Sunday, November 27th and ends on Saturday, December 24th. The word advent comes from the Latin term adventus meaning “arrival” or “coming,” particularly the coming of something having great importance. The Advent season is full of joyful celebration in anticipation and celebration of the arrival of Jesus Christ. It is preparatory period of repentance, meditation, and penance.
Olive Grove annually lights the Advent wreath a custom that began in 16th-century. The Advent wreath is a circle of branches or garland with five candles arranged on the wreath. During the season of Advent, we will light one candle on the wreath weekly on Sunday and will meditate on scripture as a part of the corporate Advent services. The Advent candles each represent a specific aspect of the spiritual preparations for Christmas. The first purple candle is called the Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope. The second purple candle is the Bethlehem Candle or the Candle of Preparation (Peace). The third (pink) candle is the Shepherd Candle or Candle of Joy. The fourth candle, a purple one, is called the Angel Candle or the Candle of Love and the last (white) candle is the Christ Candle. The purple symbolizes repentance and royalty. Pink represents joy and rejoicing and white stands for purity and light. This year we are blessed to partake of Holy Communion and witness the lighting of the Christ candle on Christmas Day!
We light the first candle to recall the hope that accompanied a Child, born in a lowly manger, Who became a servant example for us. We acknowledge that through his subsequent incarnation we witness the love of God coming to dwell among us. We remember that there is one God; that He alone is Lord. We are thankful for his love, mercy, grace and peace. The Candle of Peace, also purple represents God’s covenant with us that he will never leave nor forsake us. Our life can be full of challenges, but, no matter what the circumstances, even in death, the peace of God cannot be removed from our lives. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding and yet binds us together. The common ground we have is found in Christ’s offering of grace, unmerited, to each of us without reservation. He is our Prince of Peace. The third candle of Joy commemorates Gabriel’s message to Mary that a special child would be born to her. She was so overjoyed that she sang a song that begins with the words, “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so His presence in the world brings everlasting joy to us. The Love Candle reminds us that God gave Zechariah and Elisabeth a son called John. John spoke to the people denying his own comforts. His message was about repentance and choosing right over wrong and living with good morals. He baptized many who responded to his messages. John preached of the birth of the Messiah, the manifestation of G0d’s Love for this world. Love is like a candle shining in a dark place. We look to the light and love we have in Christ, as the light of this world. The final candle, white, is the Christ Candle. It commemorates the promise of the Prophets that the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ filled the world with wonder and amazement of an unconditional love and light that shines in our dark places. May the flame of these candles remind us that we are the light of the world and we shall never be in darkness but have to true light of life through Christ Jesus!
The Christian Education Ministry invites you to join in corporate reflection during the Advent season.
Review the Calendar insert of daily scriptures and rekindle the joy of this Christmas Season!