Pulpit & P ew
Advent is upon us
We are now in the first week of Advent. For those who do not celebrate Advent in your churches, let me give you a quick background of what Advent is all about.
Advent is a four-week season dedicated to reflective preparation for the arrival, “advent,” of Jesus Christ’s Nativity at Christmas time, as well as Christ’s expected return in the Second Coming. During this important event on the church calendar, each week of Advent focuses on a different theme — hope, peace, joy, and love.
Christians from all denominations and backgrounds celebrate Advent in different ways, but all focus on the anticipation — the waiting for the arrival of Jesus. Many of the churches that celebrate Advent each year do so by lighting candles in the form of an Advent wreath.
People started using the Advent Wreath sometime in the sixteenth century. Small branches from evergreen trees were woven into a circle and laid on a table in Christian homes at Christmas time.
The evergreens represented everlasting life, and the circle represented God’s unending love. That symbolism is as true today as it was so many years ago.
Five candles are placed in the wreath. Four candles around the outer circle of the wreath and one is placed in the middle.
One candle is lit each Sunday during the Advent season. The center candle the Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve. The lighting of each candle reminds us of what Jesus brought to the world.
What a wonderful time of the year to reconnect with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please come and worship at the church of your choice here in Parsons, Kansas. Also, if you are needing a place to eat Christmas Dinner here in Parsons on Christmas Day, come out to the VFW center for the Parsons Community Dinner from 11 — 1 sponsored by the Parsons Ministerial Association and the Parsons VFW. Everyone is welcome.
Your Servant in Christ,
— Pastor Claude Shue, Faith United Methodist Church
