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The Advent Wreath

Advent is a season of preparation and we use many aids to help us prepare mentally for the Christmas season and the coming of Jesus.

One such aid is the Advent wreath or ring.  You will see that often we use different coloured candles on our Advent wreath during Advent but I notice that many people don't know why we  do so.  I have included below a bit of an explanation and appropriate blessing prayers for use at the lighting of the candles and which I hope you will find helpful especially if you have an advent wreath at home.

The candle colours are derived from the traditional churches' liturgical colours of Advent and Christmas, purple, rose and white. The rose colour is possibly derived from the custom of wearing rose coloured vestments on the third Sunday in Advent (and fourth Sunday in Lent), called Gaudete Sunday, i.e. "Rejoice" Sunday. Each candle is first lit on the appropriate Sunday of Advent during the church service. Candles may be lit each day as a part of the individual or family's daily prayers at home. Certain candles have been given various names. There is a variation in how the candles are named but this is the scheme advocated by the Church of England.

1. Patriarchs (Purple)

2. Prophets (Purple)

3. John the Baptist or Gaudete Sunday(Rose Pink)

4. Mary the mother of Jesus. (Purple)

5. Christ the light of the world (White)

Alternatively all the Advent candles are red and the Christmas one in the centre is white.

Here are some Prayers that can be used on lighting the candles.

1. God of Abraham and Sarah,
and all the patriarchs of old,
you are our Father too.
Your love is revealed to us in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Son of David.
Help us in preparing to celebrate his birth
to make our hearts ready for your Holy Spirit
to make his home among us.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.

2. God our Father,
you spoke to the prophets of old
of a Saviour who would bring peace.
You helped them to spread the joyful message
of his coming kingdom.
Help us, as we prepare to celebrate his birth,
to share with those around us
the good news of your power and love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.

3. God our Father,
you gave to Zechariah and Elizabeth in their old age
a son called John.
He grew up strong in spirit,
prepared the people for the coming of the Lord,
and baptized them in the Jordan to wash away their sins.
Help us, who have been baptized into Christ,
to be ready to welcome him into our hearts,
and to grow strong in faith by the power of the Spirit.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.

4. God our Father,
the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary
that she was to be the mother of your Son.
Though Mary was afraid,
she responded to your call with joy.
Help us, whom you call to serve you,
to share like her in your great work
of bringing to our world your love and healing.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.

5. God our Father,
today the Saviour is born
and those who live in darkness are seeing a great light.
Help us, who greet the birth of Christ with joy,
to live in the light of your Son
and to share the good news of your love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who has come into the world.

 

 

 

 

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     Tony Gilbert

 Team Rector

 Reverend Tony Gilbert

 God of Compassion and Justice,
We cry out to you for all who suffer in the Holy Land today.
For your precious children, Israelis and Palestinians,
Traumatised in fear for their lives;
Lord, have mercy.

For the families of the bereaved,
For those who have seen images they will never forget,
For those anxiously waiting for news, despairing with each passing day;
Lord, have mercy.

 

For young men and women,
heading into combat,
bearing the burden of what others have done and what they will be asked to do;
Lord, have mercy.

 

For civilians in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, that they would be protected and that every life would count and be cherished and remembered;
Lord, have mercy.

 

For the wounded, and those facing a lifetime of scars, for those desperately seeking medical treatment where there is none;
Lord, have mercy.

 

For medical and emergency personnel, risking their own lives to save those of others;
Lord, have mercy.

 

For those who cannot see anything but rage and violence, that you would surprise them with mercy, and turn their hearts towards kindness for their fellow human beings;
Lord, have mercy.

 

For people of peace, whose imagination is large enough to conceive of a different way, that they may speak, and act, and be heard;
Lord, have mercy.

 

Mighty and caring God, you promised that one day, swords will be beaten into ploughshares, meet us in our distress, and bring peace upon this troubled land.

 

Amen.

 

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Three Valleys Team Ministry

 

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The Reverend Tony Gilbert and his wife Nicola