Advent means "coming." Historically, Advent was viewed as a time of preparation through repentance. It has also become a season to look forward with hope as we prepare to celebrate Christ's first "coming" at Christmas, and as we get ready for that future day when he will come back again as judge and ruler of all.

Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30 and lasts between 22 and 28 days, ending on Christmas Eve. Advent begins the Church Year and always includes four Sundays.

The traditional color of Advent is purple, a royal color for Christ the Ruler. It is also the color of penitence, which means being sorry for our sins. More recently, blue has been recommended for use as a color symbolizing hope and the truth of Christ.

Advent has many symbols. The first and last letters or the Greek alphabet are Alpha and Omega, meaning "the beginning and the end." These are often used together as a symbol for Advent. An angel symbol is a reminder of the angel who visited Mary. The candles used on Advent wreaths have also become a symbol for Advent. The trumpets that will blow when Christ comes to earth again symbolize the hope of Christ's return (1 Thessalonians 4:16). A crown symbolizes Christ as Ruler. John the Baptist prepared people to hear Jesus' message and called him "the Lamb of God," so the lamb carrying the banner of victory over sin and death is also used as an Advent symbol.

As Christians, we use symbols to visually express the basic tenets of our faith and as reminders of the pilgrimage of our life in Christ. Symbols can have heightened meaning for us when associated with particular seasons of that journey. One such symbol is the Advent wreath.

The Advent wreath has its roots in the pagan religions of northern Europe, a solstice practice calling for the return of the sun in the dark time of the year by lighting candles placed on a cartwheel decorated with evergreen.

Lutheran Christians living in 16th century Eastern Europe appropriated this earlier custom and gave it Christian symbolism. As early as the Middle Ages, Christians used this fire/light symbol to represent Christ's coming into the world. Using this same symbolism, the Advent wreath became a sign of the waiting and hopeful expectation of the return in glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. The wheel came to represent the eternal victory over death through Jesus Christ. The evergreens were a sign of the faithfulness of God to God's people, even in death, and the lighted candles were a reminder of the light of Christ brought into the world.

This symbolism can be just as strong for us today as it was for the Lutherans of Luther's time. As is the case with all symbols, they speak loudest to remind us of God's promises of life when they are drawn directly out of our daily experience and environment. One should consider using only natural materials from God's creation when making an Advent wreath. Evergreens come in many varieties and may be treated with a flame retardant substance. Branches of holly, laurel, and other green shrubs, which retain their freshness longer than pine, may also be used. The circular shape, a symbol of eternal life, is most important. Using an alternative shape like a log would lose much of the meaning of the symbol.

There is no one prescribed color for the candles, although several traditions are current. Four natural colored candles are always appropriate and symbolize the Light for which we wait. Four deep purple candles, a sign of the penitential nature sometimes attributed to the season, are also appropriate. Some customs calls for lighting three purple candles on the first, second and fourth Sundays, and a pink candle on the joyful third Sunday known as "Gaudete" (Rejoice!). In the center of the Advent wreath can stand a larger white candle, which signifies the coming of Christ. In many Lutheran congregations, this candle is not lit until after Christmas has come.

Liturgical renewal in the last decades of this century has shifted the focus of these four weeks to one of hope and expectation of the coming of the Christ. This hope looks forward not only to the child in the manger, but also to Christ's coming in glory at the end of time-a continuation of the eschatalogical emphasis of the last Sundays of Pentecost. Candles in rich hues of blue are symbolic of this hope. Coincidentally, these two colors, purple and blue, have long been associated with the same ideas: the mythological colors of royal blood and of longing; the visual colors of the dawn before the sun rises and the deep shades of midnight.

As we enter this new season of Advent, the season of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child to our lives and our world, we recall the words of the prophet Isaiah:

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 7:14. NRSV)

We know, of course, that this prophecy, which foretold the coming of a child in the lineage of Jesse, the father of King David, was given to help prepare God's people for the coming of the Messiah. As the author of the book of Hebrews wrote:

"Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son." (Hebrews 1:1-2a)

And so with joy we recall the prophecy from over twenty-five hundred years ago:

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, NRSV)

God often works in our lives in unexpected ways, using the most unlikely sources to show us His grace and power. It is for this reason that we remember that the birth of Jesus took place, not in the great seats of power like Rome or even Jerusalem, but in a humble village. As the Prophet Micah wrote,

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2 NRSV)

So it is that this small town, which was not only small, but also the birthplace of King David, came to play a part in the great Christmas Drama. In the same way, we find our place in god's plan as we humble ourselves before him. Look for signs of god's great plan unfolding in quiet, small, unexpected places of your life. It is there that you may most clearly see His grace at work.

Today we light the pink candle -- pink for the lighter, more joyous mood of the Shepherds, who were among the first to hear of the coming of the Savior:

8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, raising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:8-20, NRSV)

The Shepherds' lives would never be the same because of the Great News they received that night. Their hearts were filled with rejoicing and praise, and they immediately went to meet Jesus for themselves. Their example is one for us to follow as we respond anew to the Christmas story.

If there was any doubt about what was happening in that small town in the stable so long ago, if there was any confusion around those amazing events, the angel and the Heavenly Host of angels were there to clear things up:

9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they are terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" (Luke 2:9-14 NRSV)

And so we join with the angelic host praising God for all that he is doing in this great event,

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o'er the plains.
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains,
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Like the star over Bethlehem, the Christ Candle is finally lit! At last the waiting is over! At last, the Savior is born!

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 RSV)

10And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; 11for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God Saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peaceamong men with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:10-14 RSV)

Let the Light of His Presence bring joy, peace and new life to you and your family. Jesus is here!