By Mik Milem, GCU University Pastor
Advent comes from the Latin word 'adventus' meaning 'coming.' Advent begins the church year, starting four Sundays before Christmas. The season of Advent has been set aside as a time of preparation since the 6th century. It is a time for preparing for Christ's second coming, even as we remember and celebrate His first coming at Christmas.
The Advent wreath is a traditional element of the celebration and is made of five candles in a circle of evergreens. Four candles are purple, and the fifth is white. In the church, they light one candle each Sunday for the four weeks before Christmas Day. In a home, the family lights the candles each day, perhaps before the evening meal - one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25.
As we light the candles, we remember a promise given to us concerning the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. The first candle represents hope; the second, love; the third, joy; the fourth, peace. On Christmas Day, we light all candles as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. A Scripture is read with the lighting of each candle as well, representing the theme of each candle.
On the first Sunday in Advent
On the second Sunday in Advent
On the third Sunday in Advent
On the fourth Sunday in Advent
On Christmas Eve after sundown or on Christmas Day
(New International Version)
