Advent 2024
Sleepiness weighed me down and forced me to be still. It was past my usual bedtime, but the Christmas Eve candlelight service was a special event. The minimal light and silence in the sanctuary encouraged my need for sleep. Since everyone loved this service, we arrived early to get a parking spot—extra time for sleep to try to hug me and close my eyes.
Finally, the family chosen for this unique service walked to the front of our church. The tallest son carefully lit each of the candles in the Advent wreath. He passed the candle lighter to his father. My breath caught in my chest as the dad lit the Christ candle in the center. The light seemed to intensify instantly. The other kids lit their small candles from the Christ Candle. They went to the center aisle, ready to share the flame down each pew.
My mother handed out the candles to each of my sisters and finally to me. In my mind, the candle with the wax protector on it became a girl swirling with joy at the birth of Jesus. Without thinking, my hand started spinning the candle while we waited for the flame to pass. My dad stopped the spinning with a slight shake of his head. The candle (or dancing girl) stopped spinning. We waited patiently for the flame to reach my dad’s wick. He tipped his candle to receive the flame. Then he held up his candle so I could carefully tip it to light its wick. This somber dance continued from my mother to my sisters.
Next came the waiting, as the light slowly strengthened as the flame made its way down each pew. It beat back the darkness and reminded us of Christ’s arrival. His light overcomes the darkness. Our little candles shone brightly, reminding us of His arrival and Second Coming.
The whole congregation sang “Silent Night, Holy Night” acapella. It didn’t matter if we could not sing; we made beautiful music together. Pausing in the middle of the verse to enjoy the sounds of my dad’s deep bass and my mom’s alto reminded me of God’s creativity in making so many voices sound different.
As the Christmas season approaches, my family is preparing for Advent. This year, our focus will be on God’s character traits. Each candle in the Advent Wreath represents hope, faith, joy, or love. Every Sunday, we light a new candle, and I share about the candle for the week. Depending on your traditions, this culminates with the Christ Candle on Christmas.
Advent means coming or arrival. The focus of Advent is on Christ’s arrival. First, He came as a baby, but, more importantly, He will return at His Second coming. Advent links the incarnation, the resurrection, and the Second Coming. It symbolizes people’s spiritual journey as they affirm Christ has come, He died and was resurrected, and He will come again in power.
Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas. It is 40 days of remembering Christ’s love. We recognize the blessed arrival of His birth and await His coming again in glory. The first Sunday in Advent this year is December 1, 2024. Christmastide follows Advent, which starts on December 25 and ends on January 5, and Epiphany on January 6.
The Advent season is marked by a spirit of hope, faith, joy, and love. Each candle represents one characteristic of a Christian’s life. We celebrate Advent by anticipating and longing for Christ’s return, a time of reflection and fasting. During the first two weeks, people often fast and repent. The lighting of the Joy candle on the third Sunday breaks their fast.
Since my family uses an evergreen bough traditional advent wreath, each year we gather supplies. To build your advent wreath, you will need a wreath of evergreens, three purple candles, one pink candle, and a large white candle. The white candle can be placed in the center at the start of Advent or appear on Christmas Eve. The Wreath has places for the four colored candles. We include purple ribbons and small ornaments. Each of these items symbolizes parts of the Advent tradition.
Let’s examine our supplies. Each item has a reason for being part of this Church tradition.
The Wreath is a circle that reminds us of Jehovah, I am Who I am, God Himself. It reminds us of His eternity and ENDLESS mercy. The Wreath has no beginning or end, just as God’s love for us has no beginning or end. The circle reminds us to show endless love when we exchange wedding bands during a wedding ceremony.
The Candles symbolize the light coming into the world through the birth of His Only Son—these “living” flames symbolize Christ’s light coming to save us. The one rose/pink candle symbolizes joy. This candle reminds us to change as we become more like Christ. Three candles are violet/purple, representing penance and longing for His triumphant return. Each candle represents hope, faith, joy, and peace. Each candle reminds us to look to the future coming of Christ. Advent provides a quiet prelude building to the dramatic brightness of Christmas.
We add Purple Ribbons to remember Jesus’ royalty and preparation for the Lord’s Second Coming. Purple means penance and longing for His return. It is the color of royalty and reminds us of His Kingdom. We long for the King’s return and repent from our sins. Christ came to give us forgiveness for our sins. We use the ribbons to remind us of the gifts Jesus received. The Wise Men brought three gifts to honor Him. My family adds three small ornaments to our Wreath to remind us of the gifts.
How do we light the candles? The candle for week one is across from the Rose candle. The second candle is the one counterclockwise from week one. Why Counterclockwise? People used to dance clockwise around a bonfire on the winter solstice. We light the candles opposite to distinguish Christian traditions from pagan rituals. The white candle is in the center of the Wreath, which we light on Christmas Eve. All five candles are lit daily (because I can’t leave burning candles overnight unattended) from Christmas to Epiphany, January 6.
Each week, I will share a short devotion on a different characteristic. Scriptures to read with your family or for your personal devotion time are listed at the end of each Sunday devotion, as are some Christmas carols you can listen to or sing. I pray your family will be blessed by celebrating together this Advent season.
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Call Signs: How Knowing God’s Character Empowers Women to Accomplish His Mission https://a.co/gKpqQmQ
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