Seasons at St. Paul’s
ADVENT
Sunday, November 30 - Wednesday, December 24
The color of the season is violet, although some Anglicans also use blue.
“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
Matthew 3:1
Adventus means “arrival”. Advent includes the four Sundays preceding Christmas through Christmas Eve, and marks the coming of the new Church year. It is a season of anticipation: we look forward to the yearly celebration of our Lord’s first coming two thousand years ago, but the scripture readings for this season direct our attention to Jesus’ second coming, when he will return in glory at the end of time “to judge the living and the dead”.
Advent is penitential in character, which goes against the grain of secular commercial culture in December. Fasting and other disciplines of abstention are fitting to aid us in renewing our focus on prayer and repentance as we look for the once and future coming of Jesus.
Advent is sometimes observed by lighting the candles of an Advent wreath at times of prayer. This custom may be kept at home as easily as in church. Each candle is for one week of the season. They are customarily purple, except for the third candle, which is rose.
The third Sunday in Advent is sometimes called Gaudete Sunday, and is marked by a festive tone anticipating Christmas. The color for this week only is rose.
Notable days of Advent include the feasts of St. Nicholas (yes, that “Saint Nick”) and St. Clement of Alexandria.
What other time or season can or will the Church ever have but that of Advent?
Karl Barth