A Simple Primer on Advent

Written By Casey Bedell

Entering Advent

On the first Sunday in Advent we began a new liturgical year. Fittingly, the new liturgical year is a lot like smelling salt to sleepy Christians, as it begins with a call to cast away the works of darkness and to stay awake. Advent, rightly understood, is a shock to the spiritual system because it aims to awaken fresh hope. This is why the first Sunday in Advent turns our attention not to Christ’s first advent but his second advent. It begins with cosmic convulsions, lessons from fig trees, and eschatological hope. We begin with the end in mind to remind us that we are to be people who stand straight with their heads raised even as the world panics in fear. “Fear is not a Christian habit of mind” says Marilynne Robinson. “We as Christians cannot think of Christ as isolated in space or time if we really do accept the authority of our own texts”, she continues. Rather, we are to believe in a joyful hope that is coming to us from the future. We know that because the Messiah who was “folded with us into time and place” will come again to “unfold for us the mystery of grace.” (Malcolm Guite). This is why Christians of all people are those who are pulled from the future and not pushed by the past.

The Meaning of Advent

The word “advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival.” It’s a season of both remembering and preparing for Christ’s two comings. We remember that period of history when Israel was still in darkness, waiting for their Messiah — the light of the world to come. But it is also the time where both Jew and Gentile each prepare for the light of the world to come again to judge the living and the dead. Advent holds the tension of both grace and judgment. The already and the not yet.

In our culture’s rituals of this season, we rush headlong into partying, feasting, shopping, and celebrating without waiting, taking stock, watching and preparing for this Light. But in the historical practice of Advent in the Christian year, the church begins in the dark, as we learn again to wait to celebrate, which deepens our eventual Christmas feast. If Advent is new to you, settle in with the compilation of resources below. May the Spirit of the Messiah consecrate this season unto you making it both a holy and happy season.

Advent Music

What’s the difference between Advent music and Christmas music? Perhaps the classic piece of Advent music is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” because it reflects Advent’s emphasis on waiting and expectation.

Christmas music, on the other hand, emphasizes the joyful celebration of Christ’s arrival at the Incarnation. “Joy to the World” comes to mind, but if you read the lyrics to that song closely, you’ll notice that they’re actually about the second coming of Jesus, not his birth. So, maybe think of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” as a paradigmatic Christmas song.

As we prepare to enter Advent familiarize yourself with the Advent music we have customarily sung at Harbor Anglican through our Spotify channel.

Advent Colors

Dark blue or purple/violet are typical for this season, and pink is sometimes used for the 3rd week, beginning with Gaudete (meaning: rejoice) Sunday—following the colors of the candles on the Advent wreath. For the Christmas season, beginning Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, white is used, or sometimes gold. At Harbor we use blue during the season of Advent. Churches have adopted blue as the color for Advent to distinguish it from the purple for Lent. Blue represents hope and expectation, while the purple represents preparation and penitence, both of which rightly convey the spirit of Advent. Deep blue, however, symbolically is the color of the predawn sky, the color that covers the world in the dark, cold hours before the dawn.

Advent Books

If you are new to Advent or just looking for some fresh reading as we begin a new liturgical year we recommend the following books:

Advent Practices

Likewise, if this is a new season for you we invite you to explore the following practices. As a church we will have an Advent wreath with candles lit each Sunday so you can catch a glimpse of an Advent wreath in person on December 1st.

Casey Bedell https://www.harboranglican.org
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