What is the season of Advent?
Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.
The dates for the 2018 season of Advent are:
First Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 2
Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 9
Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 16
Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 23
Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 24
Christmas Day Tuesday, December 25
Historically, churches decorate the altar with purple banners and candles during the season of Advent. The color purple traditionally been the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. Purple is still used in some traditions (for example Roman Catholic). The purple of Advent is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. The Incarnation (the birth of Christ in a human body) cannot be separated from His crucifixion. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh" who dwelt among us, is to reveal God’s grace to the world through Jesus’ teaching and His perfect life. But, at the same time, every event of Jesus’ life, including His birth, points forward to His suffering, death, and resurrection. To reflect this emphasis, originally Advent was a time of penitence and fasting, much as the Season of Lent and so shared the color of Lent. An exception to the use of purple is made on the third Sunday of Advent. The color pink is used on the third Sunday of Advent, denoting joy at the coming birth of Jesus Christ.
The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus” which means “arrival” or “coming”. The season of Advent is marked by a spirit of anticipation. It sparks a spirit of longing as we remember and celebrate the coming of the Christ child and what it has meant to Christians throughout the ages. It marks a time of preparation. Preparation is necessary to replace all the stress of selecting and buying just the right gifts, cleaning and preparing our homes, and all the frenzied activity associated with a major family holiday. We must ask God to calm our hearts and minds so that we can concentrate on the true miracle that is Christmas.
Click here to return to Special Services and Events page.
The dates for the 2018 season of Advent are:
First Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 2
Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 9
Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 16
Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 23
Christmas Eve Service Monday, December 24
Christmas Day Tuesday, December 25
Historically, churches decorate the altar with purple banners and candles during the season of Advent. The color purple traditionally been the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. Purple is still used in some traditions (for example Roman Catholic). The purple of Advent is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. The Incarnation (the birth of Christ in a human body) cannot be separated from His crucifixion. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh" who dwelt among us, is to reveal God’s grace to the world through Jesus’ teaching and His perfect life. But, at the same time, every event of Jesus’ life, including His birth, points forward to His suffering, death, and resurrection. To reflect this emphasis, originally Advent was a time of penitence and fasting, much as the Season of Lent and so shared the color of Lent. An exception to the use of purple is made on the third Sunday of Advent. The color pink is used on the third Sunday of Advent, denoting joy at the coming birth of Jesus Christ.
The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus” which means “arrival” or “coming”. The season of Advent is marked by a spirit of anticipation. It sparks a spirit of longing as we remember and celebrate the coming of the Christ child and what it has meant to Christians throughout the ages. It marks a time of preparation. Preparation is necessary to replace all the stress of selecting and buying just the right gifts, cleaning and preparing our homes, and all the frenzied activity associated with a major family holiday. We must ask God to calm our hearts and minds so that we can concentrate on the true miracle that is Christmas.
Click here to return to Special Services and Events page.