The Season Of Expectancy
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
Advent
Liturgical Color: Purple/Blue
The church regulates the year, not by the civil or astronomical calendar, but by the events in the life of Jesus the Christ, the Son of Righteousness and Salvation. The church year, therefore, begins with Advent, the season of preparation for the celebration of the incarnation of the God/Man. Since the seventh century, the Western church has begun Advent on the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saint Andrew, ending it on the Sunday before Christmas Day, a period of four weeks.
Traditionally, purple, though now replaced by blue, is the color for Advent. These colors symbolize our need for the searching of our hearts and changing our lives as we consider the need which brought Jesus to dwell among people. Purple/blue are also the colors of royalty, suggesting the second aspect of Advent, that is, the righteous rule of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. For in the endless cycle of the year, Advent is both a beginning and an ending, directing meditation and worship toward the appearance of God among people in the person of Jesus of Nazareth; and following Kingdomtide, it also points us to that future coming of Christ at the end of time when his righteous rule will encompass the world.
The custom of the Advent wreath with its four candles comes to us from Europe and gains in popularity each year. We can include the use of the candles in worship, church school, youth fellowship, and as a family activity. We can encourage such use of the Advent season in our homes; for we are brainwashed by the culture's commercialization of this season and need all the help we can get to regain and retrieve the biblical truth.
* * *
In early autumn, invite seven families to contribute to an Advent/Christmas booklet, to be given to all who come to worship. Develop the meditations around the Gospel lessons for Advent, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Sundays. Give them whatever help they need. More importantly, give them permission to use their insights and talents.
During the Sundays of Advent and on Christmas Eve, invite, well in advance, five families to prepare and present the Advent candle ceremony at the beginning of worship. Use the Gospel lessons for the basis of each presentation.
Liturgical Color: Purple/Blue
The church regulates the year, not by the civil or astronomical calendar, but by the events in the life of Jesus the Christ, the Son of Righteousness and Salvation. The church year, therefore, begins with Advent, the season of preparation for the celebration of the incarnation of the God/Man. Since the seventh century, the Western church has begun Advent on the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saint Andrew, ending it on the Sunday before Christmas Day, a period of four weeks.
Traditionally, purple, though now replaced by blue, is the color for Advent. These colors symbolize our need for the searching of our hearts and changing our lives as we consider the need which brought Jesus to dwell among people. Purple/blue are also the colors of royalty, suggesting the second aspect of Advent, that is, the righteous rule of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. For in the endless cycle of the year, Advent is both a beginning and an ending, directing meditation and worship toward the appearance of God among people in the person of Jesus of Nazareth; and following Kingdomtide, it also points us to that future coming of Christ at the end of time when his righteous rule will encompass the world.
The custom of the Advent wreath with its four candles comes to us from Europe and gains in popularity each year. We can include the use of the candles in worship, church school, youth fellowship, and as a family activity. We can encourage such use of the Advent season in our homes; for we are brainwashed by the culture's commercialization of this season and need all the help we can get to regain and retrieve the biblical truth.
* * *
In early autumn, invite seven families to contribute to an Advent/Christmas booklet, to be given to all who come to worship. Develop the meditations around the Gospel lessons for Advent, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Sundays. Give them whatever help they need. More importantly, give them permission to use their insights and talents.
During the Sundays of Advent and on Christmas Eve, invite, well in advance, five families to prepare and present the Advent candle ceremony at the beginning of worship. Use the Gospel lessons for the basis of each presentation.
