Celebrating the Advent Ring
This Sunday marks the first Sunday of Advent, a time to bring out the Advent ring and begin the countdown to the most exciting season of the year.
In our church, the ring sits on a black circular disc which supports four apertures holding four candles around the edge and the most important one in the centre. It symbolises the four Sundays of Advent and traditionally a lucky child is invited each week to light one – carefully supervised, of course.
Pity the clergy member who has to choose from the frantic flurry of excited hands waving in the air!
The word Advent means “the coming” and the evergreen wreath with four candles symbolises the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The fifth candle, the Christ candle, is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Be sure our diligent flower team members will make sure the wreath is well watered and tended during the next few weeks.
More popular traditions will be honoured next week. Please let me know if you have any favourite ones which can then be featured in the lead up to main event.
— Lynn Radnedge