Advent

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." During this season we focus on celebrating the first advent, the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent is a season for remembering (we look back) and in our remembering we participate (we experience it in the present) and anticipate (we look forward) God’s reconciliation of all creation.

The Advent season includes the themes of expectation and anticipation, preparation and longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the brokenness of our lives and the brokenness of the world.

The color of Advent is royal blue, a color associated with hope, in anticipation of the imminent announcement of the King’s coming. The ministers’ stoles and the paraments on the pulpit and altar table call us to this season.

Sara Buckner designed the Advent wreath of graduated tiers and John Condron crafted the wooden tiers from cherry wood donated from Sarah’s father’s stock.

During the Advent season we light the candles of hope, peace, love and joy, thereby marking the movements of the season and the gifts that are found in Christ’s coming.

The Chrismon tree (Chris – Christ; mon – monograms) involves the use of symbols from the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The tree tells a story of the significance of Christ whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. The chrismons on our tree were made by members of this fellowship.