Sunday saw the beginning of the Advent season with the lighting of the Hope candle.
I love Advent every year, and, especially recovering from sepsis and still pretty puny, I am just filled with joy to celebrate its arrival.
For those of you who aren’t part of the liturgical church tradition, when we celebrate Advent, we look forward to the coming of Christ. In observance, our churches and homes have wreaths with four candles on the exterior circle, one lit each week leading up to Christmas, and then the fifth candle in the center, the Christ Candle, lit on Christmas.
Here are the candle meanings as well as the symbolism of the wreath:
Though I love the idea of having a home Advent wreath anyway, it has become particularly meaningful in these times of COVID and online worship. Last year, when we had our first entirely home Advent, down to the lighting of the Christ candle on Christmas Eve – while celebrating virtually with our church family – it was completely different – but just beautiful.
The story behind our Advent Wreath is that one year I wandered into a Lifeway a couple of days after Christmas just to see if they still had anything pretty in the clearance section – and it was there, with these beautiful intricate carvings of the Nativity all around it. There was only one left and I was SO excited. Of course, it would have a candle set that went with it to purchase each year – that I couldn’t find again. Did I care? Not a bit. My better half totally made my exterior wreath work – and the first year I forgot to get a center candle – and I just made my pretty lilac candle work – so she stays.
Our Family Wreath is perfect as is because it’s beautiful and it’s ours. It makes my heart smile every time I see it. ❤
We still have many decorations to put up as well – but we decorated our Christmas tree tonight.
I am so Christmas excited. ❤
On Sunday, a dear friend shared this beautiful thought – and, as there has been great darkness in our world this year, I want to share it as well.
The season of light is here.
Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Grace and Blessings.
P. S. I adore Christmas music so I’ll be ending each post up to Christmas Day with a favorite version of a Christmas song. Today I came across this version of O Holy Night that I think is just perfect. ❤
the autoimmune hippie. 