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Christmas Eve : What is the Christ Candle?

12/20/2018

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Anglican Pastor, it is worth your time. They even have a daily email blast about all things in our tradition.

Take a look at the article below in preparation for Christmas next week.

By Greg Goebel

On the four Sundays of Advent, you’ll see the Advent wreath at the Anglican Church. Around it will be four candles, three purple and one pink. And in its center is a large white candle. That’s the Christ Candle. continue reading by clicking here

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A new way to 'see' the Bible

12/13/2018

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While away at a conference last week I learned about a wonderful new resource called the Bible Project. Through a series of exceptional videos every book of the Bible is covered by offering an overview and what they call ‘milestones’ of main themes therein. All the videos are engaging and full of excellent content.

If you have ever wondered how to read the Bible, or how it all fits together, this project masterfully handles those issues too. I commend it to you as a great resource for all ages. If you have young children and/or teenagers, what more wholesome and beneficial thing to place before them than the Word of God! Trust me, these videos are well done, and not grade ‘b’ or grade ‘c’ productions.

As we continue through Advent, take a look! Maybe it will be a start of the new year’s resolution to see scripture anew. Each segment is not very long, and is truly well crafted.You may click the link here to be redirected or copy and paste the following link below. Happy viewing!!

https://thebibleproject.com/#read

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What is the meaning of the Advent wreath?

12/6/2018

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Last Sunday marked the beginning of a new year in the Church calendar. Perhaps the most telling of the changes at church came in the appearance of the Advent Wreath, which makes its début annually on the First Sunday in Advent. The presence of the Advent wreath brings much more than a weekly countdown to Christmas. Although its exact origins are unknown, it seems to have been adapted from a pagan practice used by early Germanic peoples. During the bleak, dark, short winter months they made wreaths with candles to remind them of the promise of spring and longer days. The peoples of Scandinavia also had a similar practice. They made wreaths into a circular shape, and would pray to the gods to turn the ‘wheel of the earth’ back to longer days and warmer weather.

As Christianity has masterfully done throughout history, it adopted this widespread practice while adapting its meaning in efforts to present the Gospel. Its theme was changed to center upon Jesus Christ (the light of the world; John 3:19-21), rather than the sun or some lesser light. And by the height of the Middle Ages the Advent Wreath was common practice. The four candles were used not only to depict the weeks leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ birth, but also to represent the total of nearly 4,000 years between Adam and Eve and His coming into the world. The pink, or rose candle, symbolizes the halfway mark and serves to remind us to rejoice as we press onward toward both Christmas and Jesus triumphant return.

The meaning of the wreath does not merely stop with the candles. Its circular shape was kept as a reminder of eternity, and the promise of never ending life for those who name Jesus as Lord of their lives. The evergreen used to make the wreath also serve as a reminder of the continuous life we have through faith in Jesus. The various laurels, pinecones, and holly decorations echo this theme as they center upon strength, healing, and immortality found in Him as well. The rich visual history of the wreath serves to underscore the victory and hope we have as a result of Jesus’ entry into the world, and His subsequent victory over death and the grave. Each week, as we light a new candle, we are reminded to hold to the Faith as we are stirred afresh to for the annual celebration of Jesus’ entrance into the world at Christmas and His promise to come again.

Acknowledgments:
Saunders, Rev. William. “The History of the Advent Wreath.” Arlington Catholic Herald

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Christmas Eve : What is the Christ Candle?

A new way to 'see' the Bible

What is the meaning of the Advent wreath?

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