The circle of the wreath and the evergreens that make it up both signify God’s endless mercy and undying love. Three purple candles and one rose-colored (pink) candle are evenly spaced around the wreath. There is one larger white candle in the center of the wreath. The wreath can be as simple as four candle holders with greenery laid around them to form a circle. However, some traditions attach meanings to using different greens, each signifying another aspect of the season. These include:
Ivy—to remind us of the human spirit clinging to God’s strength.
Cedar—to remind us of eternal life available to all through Christ.
Holly—to remind us of Jesus’ crown of thorns.
Bay—to remind us of victory over sin and death.
Each week, an additional candle is lit. As the light grows brighter, we are reminded that the Light of the World will soon arrive in glory. The central white candle is to be larger (often thicker) than the four in the wreath. This relatively recent addition to the Advent wreath signifies the Light of Christ and is first lit on Christmas Eve and relit on Christmas Day. Watch St Francis’ Church light its wreath on Sunday 29 November at 10 am Worship.
The Advent Calendar
An online advent calendar from the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem is here.
Or, click here for an online Advent Word of the Day. Every day of Advent is a new word of the day with a brief, two-minute meditation on the meaning of the season. Sponsored by Forward Movement; it’s a virtual Advent calendar delivered to your mailbox.
Each day of Advent, a homemade ornament is added to the Jesse Tree, a small tree made of evergreen branches. These symbolic ornaments can each represent a prophecy foretelling of Christ. Other variations include creating ornaments that represent the ancestors in the lineage of Christ, or using the various monogram symbols of Christianity as handmade ornaments. Before a symbol is hung on the branch, a Bible passage or a story from a story Bible is read.
My Jesse Tree: The Ultimate Guide has a good explanation and lots of ideas on how to make a Jesse tree. You can find free downloads for making Jesse Tree Ornaments and another for making a more traditional Jesse Tree. An Advent/Christmas coloring book can be found here.