Advent Sunday

With Advent rapidly approaching, I was doing a little research this morning and came across this:

Advent Sunday Start: 11/30/2008 - 00:00

Advent Sunday is the beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to 30th November. Advent is the season which begins four weeks before Christmas.

Advent is a term from the Latin word 'adventus' which means "arrival". It is a time of waiting for the arrival of Christmas, the coming of Jesus to earth when He was born as a baby at Bethlehem about two thousand years ago.

Candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son, Jesus.

The four traditional advent themes for the four advent Sundays are:

1. God's people - The Candle of Hope. Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle, we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

2. The Old Testament prophets - The Candle of Peace. Peace is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle, we celebrate the peace we find in Jesus Christ

3. John the Baptist - The Candle of Love. Love is like a candle shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle, we celebrate the love we have in Christ.

4. Mary the mother of Jesus - The Candle of Joy. Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle, we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus Christ.

The fifth candle represents the birth of Christ. The flame of this candle reminds us that He is the light of the world and that if we follow Him, we will never walk in darkness, but will have the true light of eternal life.

Advent Sunday | St. Katharine, Knockholt & St. Margaret, Halstead, Kent