Second Candle in Advent Ring

As we move through Advent each week, another candle is lit on the Advent wreath. I love this element of the season.

Although I've been a regular attendee in church for much of my life, I can remember the exact time and place when I understood the significance of each candle on the advent wreath. Not sure why it had passed me by, for the first 3 decades of my life, but it had. Lighting the light on that occasion was, I recall, accompanied by a full explanation and a prayer. It's sometimes easy to forget that we do many things that we understand in our churches, yet to an outsider may seem strange. If leading a service I will ask if anyone can remember what each candle on the wreath represents.

The first candle represents the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, those great ancients of the Torah - the first five books in the Bible. The second represents the Prophets of the Old Testament, who prepared the way of the Lord. A prayer to accompany maybe:

God our Father,
You spoke to the prophets of old
of a Saviour who would bring peace.
You helped them to spread the joyful message
of his coming Kingdom.
Help us, as we prepare to the celebrate his birth,
to share with those around us
the good news of your power and love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.

In the weeks of Advent each of these characters join us in our preparations for the fulfilment of the Promise of the Kingdom.

Recapturing Advent

Advent is the season of Expectation, encapsulated, perhaps, in ingredients of our days here in the northern hemisphere. There is less daylight, protracted colder nights and the advancing of winter - so it's essential to prepare for any eventuality, especially on an Island.

The whistling of the wind today, couldn't muffle the incessant sound of canned street music, even to be heard inside the shops in Peel High Street. Rudolf, Frosty the Snowman, Santa and other characters were already grating on nerves. The chap in the second hand book shop told me he'd turned up his own music in the hopes of drowning out the 'musack'. Woman's Hour told their listeners that today was the first day of Advent. Apparently, over 25,000 people contacted the Beeb to put them right. It is 1st December, and the first window of an Advent calendar can be opened, but Advent Sunday was on 29th November.

Let's recapture Advent. The active part of Advent could be regarded as inactive! The very essence is about waiting - and a close walk with biblical people of waiting reminds me of its importance. Mary and Elizabeth were both awaiting the fulfilment of promises. In common with all expectant mothers, these women knew waiting must be accepted, even celebrated. This particular kind of waiting sometimes requires patient endurance, but promises much.

Even amidst the current culture of immediacy, there can be no shortcuts. We can't fast forward to Christmas. So consciously setting aside the bling of the run up to Christmas, I am actively reclaiming Advent and savouring its treasures - some of which are found in the long hours of darkness.


Weather update - We are once again being pounded by a storm, and sadly I have to tell you that the larger, very new window has failed, not quite as spectacularly as the last, but it is definitely not fit for purpose.