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Advent
By Pat Lee | November 30, 2007
Advent is a season of four weeks of preparation before Christmas. The word Advent means “coming” and refers to the coming of Jesus Christ.
During Advent we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ coming in history at Bethlehem — the First Advent. We celebrate, as well, the Second Advent. Jesus comes to us now as we gather in his name to hear God’s Word and share in the blessed bread and wine of the Eucharist and since Jesus will come to us in the future, we anticipate and prepare for his coming in majesty at the end of time.
Like many other churches we, at St. John’s, use an Advent Wreath as a visual way of moving through the four Sundays of Advent. The wreath’s circle shape has no beginning or ending, symbolising God’s love which began before the beginning and never ends. The three blue and one pink candle’s are progressively lit on each Sunday. This increasing light helps us focus on the coming into the world of Jesus, the light of the world. The blue candles of aniticipation symbolise hope, peace, and love. The pink candle symbolises the joy of reconciliation. At the centre of the wreath is the white Christ candle which is lit on Christmas Eve. Just as Jesus is at the centre of our lives, the centre of our church and centre of Advent/Christmas — the Christ candle is at the centre of the Advent wreath.
We have two manger scenes (one outside–one inside). The manger scene (chrèche) was popularised by St. Francis of Assisi around 1200 AD (CE) when he created one in a cave near his village using live animals and people. St. Francis wanted to revitalise devotion to Jesus as Christmas apporached. During Advent, the baby Jesus is not part of the scene. He is added on Christmas Eve.
The Christtmas Tree (a traditional offering from a parish family) appears at St. John’s on or about the third Sunday in Advent. It is an evergreen symbol of everlasting life — the eternal life with God offered us by Jesus.
OF Note:
December 2, the first Sunday of Advent at 6:30 pm at Bethel Pentecostal we join with several other local churches for an evening of carol singing, listening to the Biblical Christmas Story, and enjoying anthems by church choirs to support the work of the Salvation Army’s Christmas Hamper programme. Both our junior and senior choirs offer their time and talent to enrich this important outreach project.
December 16, the third Sunday in Advent our 10:00 am Holy Eucharist will take place in the upper hall as our Sunday School present their Christmas pageant. Refreshments and a time of fellowship follow this service.
It has become a tradition for “Daily Reading / Meditations / Prayers” to be provided as a takhome insert at our weekend services. God willing — this tradition will continue (in some form) this year. We will post these as they become available.
Food Bank — parishioners who wish to donate non-perishable items to the Food Bank are invited to bring their donation(s) to church on Sundays in Advent.
All of this leads us to December 24 — Christmas Eve when there are two services.
At 7:00 pm there will be the more interactive “family” service and at 9:00 pm we will have the more reflective “traditional” service.
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