The Advent Wreath Revisited

The Advent Wreath has become a standard part of many congregations' observances on the Sundays of Advent. The wreaths range from simple styrofoam circles with candles and spruce or holly inserted around the circumference to large and handsome brass stands with tall, thick candles. Congregations mark the four Sundays of Advent with special acts of candle lighting that involve families and members of the congregation.

Here are some things to consider in preparing to use Advent wreaths this year.

Try lighting the candles before the service begins or as part of the lighting of the candles on the Lord's Table. Using the Advent wreath and lighting its candles is a distinctive practice that people notice whether or not anyone speaks. The lighting of the candles gives a different visual effect to worship, and it sets these special Sundays of Advent off from the rest of the year. For this reason, it is not necessary to say anything with the lighting of the candles. You may want to put something in the service leaflet or church newsletter as a reminder about what the wreath and the candles signify. Lighting the candles before or at the beginning of the service — even during the opening hymn — does not add any time to the service, which may be a plus for services that already tend to be too long or too complicated. Another option that is simple and that does not call attention to itself is to light the first or next candle in silence just before the first reading. See other suggestions in the rubrics (red directions) at the beginning of number 262 in the United Methodist Book of Worship (UMBOW).

Use "A Service of Blessing the Advent Wreath" in The United Methodist Book of Worship (UMBOW), no. 261. This service is especially appropriate if your congregation will be using the Advent wreath for the first time this year, or if your congregation decides to reinvest the ritual action with a shared sense of meaning. There are musical resources available that enable everyone to participate. The musical response by Sally Ahner, "Come, Lord Jesus" (no. 207, UMBOW), is very simple to use. Gary Alan Smith's "Advent Wreath Litany" (no. 208, UMBOW) is a little more challenging, but it has the potential for bringing about a powerful sense of mystery and musical excitement. You may reprint these resources in your service leaflet or bulletin, but be sure to include the copyright acknowledgement and permission notice. (See the copyright page and page 12 of UMBOW.)

Adorn the Advent wreath with greens and other natural color from your environment. Be creative. Spruce and pine with cones are always available and appropriate, but you may want to be inventive. If available in your area, try magnolia leaves, bougainvillea flowers or vines, or decorative berries. Avoid artificial leaves and floral adornments. Christian worship must tell the truth. We should avoid pretense and deception. So even decorations need to connect with nature and speak of God's good gifts from creation. Use care to keep these adornments fresh and moist. If they become too dry, remove them and start over.

If you congregation strongly favors the use of ritual words or songs for each Sunday in Advent, then consider using number 262 in The United Methodist Book of Worship or one of the following:

Consider using one of the following songs.

• "Advent Candle Song," by Sally Ahner (UMBOW, no. 209). This song is very simple and is easily learned by children. Have the congregation sing the appropriate verse each week of Advent as a designated family or person lights the candle for that week. The candles lit on previous weeks should already be lighted before the service begins.
  
• "Light the Advent Candle," by Mary Lu Walker (The Faith We Sing, no. 2090). This song's stanzas focus on various aspects of the Christmas story as Luke tells it. Each week use the appropriate verse as the candles are lit. Again the candles lit on previous weeks should be already lighted before the service begins.
  
• "Come Now, O Prince of Peace," by Geonyong Lee; English paraphrase by Marion Pope (The Faith We Sing, no. 2232; Come, Let Us Worship, no. 148). This song suits anticipatory mood of the Advent Sundays very well and has a touch of lament in its melody and words. Use one stanza each week. If you have a flautist or oboist, call on her or him to introduce the melody and accompany the singing. If available, ask a Korean person to sing the stanza once and then invite the congregation to sing the stanza in either Korean or English while the candle for the week is lit. The song may also be used in the "concerns and prayers" portion of the service. See the performance notes in the "Worship Planner" edition of The Faith We Sing, p. 33.

Write a simple sentence related to the longing or anticipation expressed in the lesson or lessons to be used for each Sunday. If you have worship planning teams, invite them to create what will be said at the lighting of the Advent candles each week. If you use the Revised Common Lectionary (see the table in UMBOW, no. 227) for Advent 2003, use the readings for Year C (for Advent 2004, Year A; for Advent 2005, Year B; etc.).

For example, using the Old Testament/First Testament readings of Year C, you might create something like this:

First Sunday of Advent
(as the first candle is lighted):
Longing for God's promises to Israel, we light this candle in anticipation of the coming son of David and his justice for all people.

Second Sunday of Advent
(as the second candle is lighted):
Longing to make an offering to God in righteousness, we light this candle in anticipation of the coming of God's messenger and our willingness to endure the transformation of our lives.

Third Sunday of Advent
(as the third candle is lighted)
Longing for a day when all disaster in gone and no one is outcast, we light this candle in expectant joy and anticipation of God's love renewed in us.

Fourth Sunday of Advent
(as the fourth candle is lighted)
Longing for God's presence in the promised Messiah, we light this candle for the "one of peace" — Jesus, our coming Savior and Lord.

Light the candle with a prayer for illumination adapted for each of the Sundays of Advent. Many churches regularly join in some form of the "Prayer for Illumination" (UMBOW, 34), asking the Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds as the Scriptures are read and the Word is proclaimed.

Here are some suggested prayers for illumination during Advent that you may use as the candle for a particular Sunday is lit. These prayers are oriented to the readings for Year C in the Revised Common Lectionary.

First Sunday of Advent
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may know that your kingdom is near and we may be alert and abounding in love for one another. Amen. (Light the first candle.)

Second Sunday of Advent
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may prepare the way of the Lord in our daily life and be pure and blameless on the day of Christ. Amen. (Light the second candle; the first candle should already be lit.)

Third Sunday of Advent
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may rejoice in you always and live in fresh expectation of hearing the good news of your coming among us. Amen. (Light the third candle; the first and second candles should already be lit.)

Fourth Sunday of Advent
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may leap in joy at your nearness and, like Mary, believe that there will be a fulfillment of what you speak to us today. Amen. (Light the fourth candle; the first, second, and third candles should already be lit.)

Consider placing a nativity scene (crèche) where the Advent wreath stood from Christmas Day until Epiphany. This placement evokes a sense of fulfillment that the "countdown" has been realized in the coming of Christ born in Bethlehem.

"Prayer for Illumination" is adapted from The United Methodist Book of Worship copyright © 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House. Adapted and used with permission.