The Christian year begins with the season of Advent, which includes the four Sundays before December 25, and continues until the day before Christmas. This year, our new year begins on December 1st.
The Episcopal Church liturgical calendar, which marks each Sunday in a year, uses colors to signify our place in the Church Year. Pictured here is the calendar that is always on view on a wall in the children’s Godly Play room in the Orange Building of our campus. We can see that today the liturgical colors turn from green to blue, and will stay that way for the four weeks of Advent as we count our way until Christmas comes. (Can you guess which Sundays on the calendar represent Advent? Christmas? Epiphany? Lent? Easter? Pentecost?)
(Dec 1, 2019, is the start of an ‘A’ year. The Liturgical Calendar follows a three-year cycle, with each year being represented by the letters A, B, or C. During the year A cycle, the Gospel of Matthew is the primary Gospel that is used for the readings. In year B, Mark is the primary Gospel. In year C, Luke is the primary Gospel. The Gospel of John is proclaimed on particular Sundays in each of the years.)
Did you know that Advent is derived from a word in Latin that means “coming?” For the First Week of Advent, we light the The Prophets’ Candle. The prophets point toward something incredible that is about to happen. The light of the Advent candle, like the wisdom of the prophets, touches each of us, reminding us to slow down and pay attention to incredible moments unfolding.
Suggested activities for this week:
- Create a special place in your home to put an Advent wreath and/or Advent candles. Three blue candles and one pink candle are used. (Some traditions use purple candles, the color of royalty, instead of blue.)
- Light one blue candle this Sunday as part of your Advent candle lighting service at home.
- Explore the 1982 Hymnal and the Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS) hymnal for Advent songs to sing at home as you light your candles or as part of your daily prayers.
- Choose an Advent calendar (or make your own) and begin counting the days to Christmas. (There are lots of diy Advent calendar ideas on Pinterest.)
- Start keeping a daily gratitude journal.
- Find ways to give to others. Some ideas:
- Drop off a warm coat (child’s small or medium) for donation to a student in our community (leave the coat in the church narthex).
- Put out some birdseed in a feeder or dish.
- Tape quarters or gift cards to the washers & dryers at your local laundromat.
- Give a compliment to a friend or stranger.
- Take time each day to reflect on the prophets.
- What do you like best about the prophets?
- What is most important about the prophets?
- Do you know any prophets?
- Do any prophets know you?
- Are the prophets in the Bible all that we need?
- Who lights your way?
Advent Service to Follow at Home
Greeting
Leader: Light and peace in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. We ask this through Jesus who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture Reading
The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
Or your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And your days of mourning shall be ended.
Isaiah 60:19-20
Collect
As this wreath remains ever green and ever alive, and our Advent candles mark the weeks until the birth of Christ, nurture us in joyful hope and expectation. Amen.
