Advent Sunday, also called the First Sunday of Advent or First Advent Sunday, is the first day of the liturgical year in the Western Christian Churches and the start of the Advent season. It is a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.
This year Advent Sunday is this Sunday, December 1.
Many churches, including our church, use a candle wreathe to follow the themes for each week of Advent – hope, peace, joy and love.
- The First Candle, called the Prophecy Candle, represents hope and the anticipation of Christ’s coming, recalling the prophecies about the Messiah and the hope He brings to the world.
- The Second Candle, called the Bethlehem Candle, symbolizes peace and preparation, reflecting Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the peace that Christ’s birth brings.
- The Third Candle (this is the pink candle), is called the Shepherd’s Candle, and represents the joy felt at the birth of our Lord, as well as the joy we have in anticipation of His return.
- The Fourth Candle, called the Angel’s Candle, symbolizes love and the message of God’s love that the angels announced at Christ’s birth.