Advent

The season of preparation for Christmas, Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year. From the Latin “adventus” (coming), it anticipates both Christ’s first coming in Bethlehem and His promised second coming in glory. Through four weeks of waiting and expectation, Advent cultivates hope, repentance, and joyful anticipation.

Origins and Meaning

Historical Development

Early Church (4th-6th centuries):

• Preparation period before Christmas emerged
• Connected to baptismal preparation
• Epiphany (January 6) originally more important than Christmas
• Length varied (40 days in some places)

Formalization (Medieval period):

• Four Sundays before Christmas standardized
• Begins on Sunday nearest November 30 (St. Andrew’s Day)
• Length varies: 22-28 days depending on which day of week Christmas falls
• Penitential character developed

Protestant Reformation:

• Maintained in Lutheran and Anglican traditions
• Neglected by some Reformed churches
• Modern recovery across denominations

Double Meaning

First Coming:

• Preparation for Christmas
• Anticipating Christ’s birth
• Historical incarnation
• “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Second Coming:

• Awaiting Christ’s return
• Eschatological hope
• Final judgment and redemption
• “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Maranatha)

Present Coming:

• Christ coming into hearts now
• Spiritual preparation
• Awareness of God’s presence
• Living expectantly

The Advent Wreath

Symbolism and Structure

Circular Wreath:

• Evergreen branches (eternal life, God’s faithfulness)
• Circular shape (eternity, God’s endless love, cycle of year)
• Four candles around, one in center

Traditional Colors:

• Three Purple candles: Penitence, royalty, preparation
• One Pink/Rose candle: Joy (Third Sunday - Gaudete Sunday)
• White candle in center: Christ candle (lit on Christmas)

Modern Variations:

• All blue candles (some Protestant traditions)
• All purple candles
• Themed candles (prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherds, angels)

Weekly Lighting

Week 1: One purple candle

• Hope or Prophecy
• Isaiah and messianic prophecies
• Waiting for Messiah

Week 2: Two purple candles

• Peace or Bethlehem
• Preparation
• John the Baptist’s call to repentance

Week 3: Two purple + pink candle

• Joy (Gaudete Sunday from Latin “rejoice”)
• Midpoint celebration
• “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4)

Week 4: All four candles

• Love or Angels
• Mary’s yes to God
• Imminence of Christmas

Christmas: Center white Christ candle added

• Light of the World has come
• All candles burning

Family Practice

Daily Ritual:

• Gather around wreath
• Light appropriate candles
• Read Scripture
• Sing Advent hymn
• Prayer
• Extinguish candles

Advent Calendar

Countdown to Christmas

Origins:

• 19th century Germany
• Chalk marks or candles counting down
• Paper calendars developed (early 1900s)

Modern Practice:

• 24 days (December 1-24)
• Window/door opened each day
• Chocolate or small gift behind each
• Devotional calendars with scriptures
• DIY advent activities

Spiritual Version:

• Daily scripture readings
• Acts of kindness
• Prayer focus
• Jesse Tree ornaments

Jesse Tree

Visualizing Salvation History

Based on Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”

Practice:

• Tree (real or decorative) set up in Advent
• Ornament added each day
• Representing key figures/events leading to Christ
• Old Testament focus

Examples:

• Day 1: Creation (apple)
• Day 2: Noah (ark)
• Day 3: Abraham (stars)
• Day 4: Moses (tablets)
• Progressing through salvation history to Jesus

Liturgy and Worship

Scripture Readings

Lectionary Cycle:

• Old Testament: Messianic prophecies (Isaiah especially)
• Psalms: Expectation and hope
• Epistles: Preparation and watchfulness
• Gospels: John the Baptist, Mary, prophecy fulfillment

Key Passages:

• Isaiah 40:3: “Prepare the way of the Lord”
• Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born”
• Luke 1:26-38: Annunciation
• Matthew 24-25: Watchfulness for Second Coming

O Antiphons

December 17-23:

• Seven antiphons (responsories) before Magnificat at Vespers
• Based on Isaiah’s messianic titles
• “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” hymn derived from these

The Seven:

1. O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
2. O Adonai (O Lord)
3. O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
4. O Clavis David (O Key of David)
5. O Oriens (O Dayspring/Rising Sun)
6. O Rex Gentium (O King of Nations)
7. O Emmanuel (O God-with-us)

Advent Hymns

Classic Advent Songs:

• “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
• “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
• “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending”
• “Creator of the Stars of Night”
• “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”
• “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns”

Distinction from Christmas Carols:

• Advent hymns are anticipatory, not celebratory
• Focus on waiting, preparation, prophecy
• Christmas carols celebrate Christ’s birth
• Properly, Christmas carols not sung until Christmas

Liturgical Colors

Purple/Violet (traditional):

• Penitence and preparation
• Royal color (awaiting King)
• Continuous with Lent (but different tone)

Blue (modern alternative):

• Hope and expectation
• Mary’s traditional color
• Distinguishes from Lenten purple
• Increasingly common in Protestant churches

Theological Themes

Waiting and Hope

Active Waiting:

• Not passive but expectant
• Preparing room for Christ
• Alert and watchful
• “Keep awake, for you do not know the day” (Matt. 25:13)

Hope in Darkness:

• Winter season (Northern Hemisphere)
• Longest nights approaching
• Light coming into darkness
• Hope despite circumstances

Prophecy and Fulfillment

Old Testament Anticipation:

• Centuries of waiting for Messiah
• Prophets foretold His coming
• Promises kept
• God’s faithfulness demonstrated

Already and Not Yet:

• Christ has come (past)
• Christ is coming (present/ongoing)
• Christ will come (future)
• Living between comings

Incarnation

God Becoming Human:

• Not remote deity but Emmanuel
• Entering into creation
• Ultimate divine descent
• Preparing to celebrate this mystery

Repentance and Preparation

John the Baptist’s Call:

• “Prepare the way of the Lord”
• Repent and be baptized
• Make paths straight
• Remove obstacles to Christ

Spiritual Housecleaning:

• Making room for Christ
• Examining life and priorities
• Confession and amendment
• Readiness for Christ’s coming

Advent in Different Traditions

Roman Catholic

Penitential Season:

• Purple vestments
• Simplified decorations (traditionally)
• No “Gloria” in Mass
• Advent wreath blessed
• Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) major feast

Eastern Orthodox

Nativity Fast:

• November 15 - December 24 (40 days)
• Fasting from meat, dairy
• Preparation for Theophany (Epiphany)
• Less emphasis than West on “Advent”

Anglican/Episcopal

Book of Common Prayer:

• Collect prayers for each Sunday
• Lessons and carols services
• Advent wreath
• Traditional liturgical observance

Lutheran

Maintained from Catholic:

• Advent wreath originated in Lutheran Germany
• Strong musical tradition
• Devotional practices
• Family-centered observance

Evangelical/Non-Liturgical

Growing Interest:

• Rediscovering church calendar
• Advent devotionals popular
• Family practices adopted
• Pushback against commercial Christmas

Modern Practices

Advent Devotionals

Popular Resources:

• Daily readings and reflections
• Themed studies
• Family devotionals
• Online and app-based

Themes:

• Hope, peace, joy, love
• Old Testament prophecies
• Mary’s journey
• Preparing hearts

Simplicity Movement

Alternative to Consumerism:

• Simplified Christmas celebrations
• “Advent Conspiracy”
• Focus on worship, not shopping
• Redirecting money to charity

Practices:

• Less decorating in Advent (wait for Christmas)
• Homemade gifts
• Experiential gifts
• Service projects

Community Observances

Advent Services:

• Lessons and Carols
• Concert series
• Special liturgies
• Taizé prayer services

Outreach:

• Advent appeals for poor
• Alternative gift markets
• Service opportunities
• Mission focus

Advent vs. Christmas Season

Common Confusion

Cultural Christmas:

• Begins after Thanksgiving (U.S.)
• Decorations, music, shopping immediately
• Peaks on December 25
• Dismantled shortly after

Liturgical Practice:

• Advent: Preparation (November/December)
• Christmas: Celebration (December 25 - January 6/Epiphany)
• Two distinct seasons
• Advent is waiting; Christmas is celebrating

Countercultural Waiting

Challenge:

• Culture celebrates Christmas in Advent
• Church waits during Advent, celebrates at Christmas
• Swimming against stream
• Teaching opportunity

Benefits of Distinction:

• Deeper appreciation when Christmas arrives
• Avoiding burnout before December 25
• Rich theology of waiting
• Extended celebration of Christmas season

Contemporary Relevance

Waiting in Instant Culture

Countercultural:

• Everything immediate today
• Advent teaches patience
• Delayed gratification
• Good things worth waiting for

Spiritual Discipline:

• Resisting consumer pressure
• Practicing simplicity
• Focusing on meaning
• Cultivating anticipation

Hope in Dark Times

Personal and Global:

• Advent acknowledges darkness
• But insists light is coming
• “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isa. 9:2)
• Hope rooted in God’s promises

Environmental Awareness

Evergreen Symbolism:

• Life persisting in winter
• Creation care
• Cycles of nature
• God’s presence in creation

The Message of Advent

Advent whispers: Not yet. The world screams “Christmas!” but Advent says wait. The longing makes the arrival sweeter. The darkness makes the light brighter. The waiting prepares the heart.

Advent is pregnant pause—Mary’s nine months condensed to four weeks. The world holds its breath. Something is coming. Someone is coming.

The candles light one by one—each week adding light, approaching the fullness when Christ candle burns. We move from darkness toward light, from anticipation toward fulfillment, from “O come, O come, Emmanuel” to “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

But Advent isn’t just historical—it’s eschatological. We still wait. Christ has come; Christ will come again. We live between comings, lit by candles of hope while awaiting the full Sunrise.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” — Isaiah 9:2

Advent teaches: Waiting isn’t wasted time. It’s preparation time. Gestation time. Anticipation time. The bride preparing for the groom. The house preparing for the guest. The heart preparing for the King.

And when Christmas arrives—after the holy waiting, the quiet preparation, the candlelit expectation—the cry “Unto us a child is born!” resonates with depths those who skip Advent never plumb.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come.