Advent Wreath New Ideas
Advents wreaths can get a little stale if you ask me. I’m all for tradition–love it, actually– but really, are we using that plasticky old wreath and unexamined liturgy AGAIN?!
Well, the church I attended this past sunday surely isn’t. Their wreath isn’t a wreath per se; it’s four candles set up on four individual stands around their sanctuary. Their bulletin notes,
As the darkness deepens and winter comes, each week we light one more candle to speak of our hope for the coming light. Much has been made of the symbolism of the Advent wreath, each candle given a particular meaning. Actually, it is the action of lighting one more candle in the darkness that bears its deepest meaning. In the face of growing darkness, the church brings more light. Since our sanctuary gathers us in a circle, we imagine ourselves as the wreath, bearing in our hearts the light of Christ.
I love these ideas, moving away from each candle symbolizing a certain meaning but having the wreath more broadly remind us of bearing light in the darkness. The candles then function as actual candles, lighting the way. I guess I had forgotten that candles actually brighten things rather than just look pretty and sit in a wreath.
Does your congregation have any Advent traditions?
image by István Benedek
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Hi Adam, I’ve come up with different advent colors and themes, along with a diagram. You can check it out at http://glenkirk.blogspot.com/2008/12/time-for-new-advent.html
I hate Advent wreaths. They serve no purpose whatever except letting people pretend they have something that looks like a Christmas decoration. And the “meaning” is so bogus. But I don’t dare take that or the tatty and tacky Christmon tree away. I do like the piece you printed. I might try to use that next year. Thanks
Thanks for your comments, folks. Josn, you certainly seem to feel strongly:) I tend to agree in terms of Christmon trees as well.
[...] at A Wee Blether reads a church bulletin and has a revelation: “As the darkness deepens and winter comes, each week we light one more candle to speak of our [...]
wow!!!!! what a great idea!!!!!
I recently read an article by the art director of Reformed Worship (think I got that correct) it is the RCA and CRC publication. He wrote that after a minor disaster (something fell from the ceiling) his congregation had to make repairs to the floor necessating moving things out of the chancel. He found himself looking at familiar things in new ways with new meanings.
Heck, when my congregation “lights the Advent Wreath” all we do now is have some people do a little reading/song thing. The custodian has laready lit the candle. Having the people do it takes too much time…
I like this idea a lot and wonder what other ideas are out there too.
Thanks your the thoughts.
Advent is a time where traditions are closely held.
I like the theme of a countdown ie advent calendar and candle countdown. But also like to have my own advent wreath at home. Not focused on a liturgy but on the completion of having all the candles lit for Christmas day – the christ candle.
I found this site while doing some searching for worship leading. I am putting in the song – Christ be our light – Longing for light, we waqit in the darkness. Sometimes music is the biggest connector.