First, Advent Defined
Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Advent isn’t a rush to the finish line, no matter how much we want 2020 to be over. Advent is a time to reflect and prepare for the coming of Christ as we look back at his first coming and look forward to his return.

The advent wreath helps us rehearse Jesus’ first coming and anticipate his coming again. Each candle represents a different aspect of the Christmas story, and the colors of the candles add to that narrative.

Second Advent Basics—Explanation of the Candles

The purple candles are lit on weeks one, two and four. The color purple is the color of royalty and reminds us that Jesus is king. Purple also is called the color of repentance and reminds us to prepare our hearts for receiving Jesus as king.

Pink is a color often associated with joy. The pink candle, lit on week three, reminds us to look with joy on Christ’s incarnation and joyfully anticipate his second coming.

The center white candle, lit on Christmas Eve, reminds us that Jesus is holy, and he comes to make his people holy.

• The first candle is the promise candle and reminds us that God promised to send a king.
• The second candle is the Bethlehem candle and reminds us where Jesus was born as predicted by the prophet Micah.
• The third candle is the messenger candle and represents the messengers who prepared for and proclaimed Christ’s birth.
• The fourth candle is the shepherd candle and reminds us of the shepherds who found the Christ child, and then went out and spread the news of Jesus’ birth.
• The Christ candle in the center is lit on Christmas Eve, and reminds us that Jesus is holy and he comes to make his people holy.

First Sunday of Advent—The Promise Candle
Say: We light our first advent candle to remind us to look up and center our thoughts on a loving God, who sent his promised Son to us, and who promises his Son’s return. (Light candle.)

Say: A reading from God’s Word
Read: Isaiah 7:14, 9:6 and Luke 1:68-20
Sing: O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Pray: Dear Father, thank you for promising to send a Savior-King who would free us from the power of sin. Thank you for keeping your promise by sending Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Teach us how to live with Jesus as our King. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Make your own Advent wreath
You will need
Brass Advent Wreath and candle holders
Candles—three purple, one pink, one white pillar
Boughs—real (pine, boxwood branches) or not
Simple decorations—berries, pinecones, ribbon