A is for Advent

kurt_messick · #1 12-02-2001, 11:36 PM

A is for Advent

Advent is the beginning of the Christian year. It is a mistake to think that the calendar series (A.D./C.E.) beginning on January 1 the denoting of the Christian year -- historically, it has always begun with the commencement of the Advent season. Today (Sunday, December 2) is the first day of Advent in the West.

Advent comes, not surprisingly, from the Latin word adventus, which means 'coming'. It refers specifically to the coming of Christ, the advent of his appearance in the world. While it is unknown on which day Jesus was born, and there is historical reason to believe that December 25 was not that day, the church very early established the advent season at this time (the East and West celebrate Advent somewhat differently -- the Eastern church begins Advent earlier, and Christmas on different days, but the intent of Advent is much the same).

Churches that follow liturgical seasons and colour schemes usually revert to purple for this season. Purple has two purposes -- one, it is darker and more sombre than other seasonal hangings/colour schemes, and secondly, it is a royal colour. Like the Lenten season, which also uses purple, there is a 'royal' event at the end -- Advent culminates in Christmas, the feast day of the 'birth of the king', and Lent culminates in Holy Week, the death and resurrection, showing Christ to be 'king of all, life and death'. The sarum use (an alternative colour scheme developed by Salisbury Cathedral, in the south of England, in contradistinction from Canterbury, the dominant cathedral in English catholicism/anglicanism) calls for blue, which also emphasises sombre and dark tones, but de-centralises the royal element, re-establishing the coming of Christ as a child as a mark of solidarity with the common folk, and not with the gentry and royalty.

Advent is a season of preparation. Certainly in the rush of the holiday season, we have ample experience at knowing what it is like to strive to be prepared. However, this is not the preparation the Advent season brings to the forefront. In fact, the Advent season used to be one of denial, of self-sacrifice, of attentiveness to the spirit -- something we would do well to consider as Christmas carols start being broadcast earlier and earlier each year, something to consider as we count down the shopping days until Christmas and wonder what is the drop-dead order date from which Amazon will still be able to deliver the urgently-needed gift.

Advent is also a season of expectation, or looking forward, to the coming of Christ. As such, it has traditionally been seen as a season of preparation. Common images and lectionary readings reinforce the idea of being watchful, vigilant, diligent, and expectant. Gospel readings include the idea of not knowing when God calls -- the common expression 'like a thief in the night' is in fact a biblical phrase that comes from the Advent lectionary.

Sometimes we are asleep to the true meaning of Christmas, and no number of meaningful holiday specials will help us out of the slumber. Spiritual disciplines are hard work! Like the shepherds on the hillside, we are sometimes confronted with startling news. Like the kings from the East, we are sometimes led by a light we don't understand, toward something we don't know. Like the innkeeper, we fill up our lives with things so tightly we have no room for anything else, even the most important things, which sometimes come disguised as the commonplace. Like Herod, we fear what we don't understand, and try to eliminate it. There are many images with which we can identify. There is much work to do.

Sleepers awake!

* * *

I shall post a brief meditation each day, following an acrostic method (A for the first day, B for the second, and so forth) for each day of Advent. I hope you'll join me as I work through various feelings and thoughts this Advent season.

kurt_messick · #2 12-03-2001, 12:01 AM

YAY!

This is my first article here! I'm excited! I have a reader base and a website I can respect! How rare!
Hmmm, I wonder if I can finish every sentence in this note with an exclamation mark!

Yes, I can!

#3 12-03-2001, 12:16 AM

Looking forward to reading more.

Thanks,
-ls

jenninca · #4 12-03-2001, 07:58 AM

As someone who spent more than a few minutes yesterday trying to wrestle candles into the Advent wreath (and yet failed), this was very interesting. Looking forward to the rest!

Cindy

eplovejoy · #5 12-03-2001, 02:40 PM

What an excellent idea! Your promise to make this a series is an especially generous one! Thank you!

Just trying to follow your lead!!!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #6 12-03-2001, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jenninca
As someone who spent more than a few minutes yesterday trying to wrestle candles into the Advent wreath (and yet failed), this was very interesting. Looking forward to the rest!

Cindy

1. Take a block of styrofoam (or a circle/disk shape if you prefer).

2. Using an apple corer, cut circles out for candles to fit in. Works best if you don't cut all the way through the styrofoam (leave a little "floor") and if you cut the circles to be just a little small for the candles.

3. Twist candles into position.

4. Gather greenery, ribbons, what have you and attach them to the foam using straight pins, hairpins, hot glue - whatever you have on hand. Try to cover up all the white of the styrofoam.

5. You're done!

Variations on a theme:
- spraypaint the styrofoam gold, green, or another color after cutting out the candle holes but before putting on the greenery.

- place your styrofoam base in a round dish (if using the disk) or a basket, window-box, or other container (depending on the shape of the styrofoam) to make a very attractive base, increase the wreath's stability, and give you less foam to have to cover up.

hope this helps!

mj

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #7 12-03-2001, 02:53 PM

Oh yeah, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series too. Can't wait to see how you handle Q and X.

mj

kurt_messick · #8 12-03-2001, 03:00 PM

I was at a church once upon a time where we did this as a congregation. We divided up the letters among the clergy, staff, and interested persons. I had 'X'. So, that one is largely done already.

I also have an idea for 'Q'.

It is 'B' that has me flustered today...

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #9 12-03-2001, 03:05 PM

Birthday?

Bonsai?

Baking?

Barnes and Nobel?

Big Beautiful Boxes with Bows?

Bologna?

Bananas?

Bonkers?

Believing?

Bagels?

Burning (the Channel 11 Yule Log)?

Burping?

Bashing the inlaws over the head (in my mental fantasies) when they jump on my last nerve on Christmas Day after dinner?

Heck, they all relate to Christmas to me!

jenninca · #10 12-03-2001, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mjfrombuffalo

1. Take a block of styrofoam (or a circle/disk shape if you prefer).

2. Using an apple corer, cut circles out for candles to fit in. Works best if you don't cut all the way through the styrofoam (leave a little "floor") and if you cut the circles to be just a little small for the candles.

3. Twist candles into position.

4. Gather greenery, ribbons, what have you and attach them to the foam using straight pins, hairpins, hot glue - whatever you have on hand. Try to cover up all the white of the styrofoam.

5. You're done!

Actually, the problem is that the candles are too small for the candle holder. My mother finally turned this advent wreath over to me after not being able to find candles that fit it for five years running. Now, I guess I'm carrying on the tradition.

Thanks for the suggestions!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #11 12-04-2001, 10:42 AM

Out by me there's a store called Wicks and Sticks which sells little thingies to convert candles to fit different-sized holders. My grandma would just wrap masking tape around the base of the candles until they were fat enough to fit in the base - and with the sticky-side out, it would "grab" the holder and be less likely to tip.

Just call me Heloise...

mj