Second Sunday of Advent

     Sunday, December 9th was the Second Sunday of Advent - the lighting the second purple candle.

O come, Lord, desire of our greatest needs,

O come, Lord, liberator of Humanity.

O come, Lord, O come, Immanuel.  Amen

( cf. Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland )

Google Image cf. http://archdioceseoftoronto.blogspot.ca/2011/12/advent-wreaths-scrabble-straw.html

Collect of the Day: Almighty God, who sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah, inspire us, the ministers and stewards of your truth, to turn out disobedient hearts to you, that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge, we may stand with confidence before this glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Advent Wreath

     The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. The Advent Wreath is traditionally a Lutheran practice, albeit it has spread to many other Christian denominations.         
     It is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four candles and often, a fifth, white candle in the center. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Many Advent wreaths include a fifth, Christ candle which is lit at Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
     The custom is observed both in family settings and at public church services.



First Advent Candle - Hope

Second Advent Candle - Love

Third Advent Candle - Joy

Fourth Advent Candle - Peace

Fifth Advent Candle - Christ's Birth