First Week of Advent – Hope

I hope your Thanksgiving holidays were full of memory making!  Because two of  my teenage nieces were visiting, I had my first experience with black Friday shopping!  Wow!  I never knew one could wait in a check out line for over an hour in the middle of the night.  I’m promoting cyber shopping for future Thanksgiving visits.

Now it’s time to continue giving thanks as we enter the Advent season.  Yesterday was the first Sunday of advent.

On the first Sunday a purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Each week on Sunday, an additional candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle represents love.

On the third Sunday of Advent the pink, or rose-colored candle is lit. This pink candle is called the “Shepherds Candle” and it represents joy.

The fourth and last purple candle, oftentimes called the “Angels Candle,” represents peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

On Christmas Eve, the white center candle is lit. This candle is called the “Christ Candle” and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. The color white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior.

May your week be filled with hope.

Lord, we sense your power and your might
and we stand in awe of the hope you give.
As we  begin this Advent journey,
teach us to turn to you as our hope.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.