Advent
The season of Advent begins, this year, on the 1st December. It is the period immediately before Christmas, and the beginning of the Church year.
‘Advent’ means ‘coming’ and is a time of reflection, expectation, and preparation as we await the coming of Christ.
In the northern hemisphere Advent occurs as we move to the darkest part of the year. The natural symbols of darkness and light are powerful throughout Advent and Christmas.
In Church we display an Advent Crown of five candles. On each Sunday of Advent one of the outer candles will be lit, until by the fourth Sunday all four candles are alight. On Christmas day itself, the central, white, candle, that symbolises Christ, is lit. In lighting the candles we remember the Old Testament patriarchs, the prophets, John the Baptist, and the Virgin Mary, all of whom gave witness to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
Like many churches, St Mary’s will have a Nativity Scene on display, with Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds, and the animals in the stable, although the infant Jesus will not be put in his crib until our Christmas services.
After Christmas we celebrate, on the 6th January, Epiphany. Epiphany, which means ‘manifestation’, remembers the arrival of the Three Wise Men or Magi, and thus the manifestation of Christ to the wider, gentile, world (as described in the Gospel according to Matthew 2:1-2). It is now that the figures of the Magi will be placed in our Nativity Scene.
The season of Epiphany lasts until Candlemas on 2nd February. Candlemas marks the presentation of the infant Christ in the Temple (as described in the Gospel of Luke, 2.22-40).
It is on 2nd February that we will take down our Christmas decorations and remove our Nativity Scene.
We will be celebrating Advent, Christmas, and the Epiphany with our church services, music (including, of course, lots of carols), and our Advent course (which begins on 7th November).
For more information about this time in the Christian year see the Church of England and Diocese of Chichester websites, and the resources listed here.
