| 3550 Southwest Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76133 Phone: 817-926-8277 -- Fax: 817-926-8278 Preschool: 817-923-2040 email: st.christophers@att.net |
St. Christopher Episcopal Church
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To Know Christ and Make Him Known
| A Look at Our Church Seasons and Holy Days - Advent |
Advent starts the church year. Advent was the last season to be officially added to the
church calendar, in about 600 AD. It was made the first season of the church year because it
begins the story of the events of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Advent always
includes four Sundays before Christmas. Originally, in the Eastern Church, Advent focused
on the Annunciation (when the angels told Mary that she would bear a son); but in the West
it came to concern the first Coming at the Nativity, the future Coming at the end of time, and
the present coming, through grace, to the hearts of men. Thus the themes of consciousness of
the coming judgment and of joyful expectation have shaped our observance of Advent for
centuries. Our Advent wreath candles, symbolizing the coming of the Light of the world, are
to remind us of these themes. It has often been customary to have one rose-colored candle
to symbolize joyful expectation.
.
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation, but is not as penitential a season as Lent. It is a time
for calm and thoughtfulness before the hustle and bustle of preparation for Christmas.
church calendar, in about 600 AD. It was made the first season of the church year because it
begins the story of the events of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Advent always
includes four Sundays before Christmas. Originally, in the Eastern Church, Advent focused
on the Annunciation (when the angels told Mary that she would bear a son); but in the West
it came to concern the first Coming at the Nativity, the future Coming at the end of time, and
the present coming, through grace, to the hearts of men. Thus the themes of consciousness of
the coming judgment and of joyful expectation have shaped our observance of Advent for
centuries. Our Advent wreath candles, symbolizing the coming of the Light of the world, are
to remind us of these themes. It has often been customary to have one rose-colored candle
to symbolize joyful expectation.
.
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation, but is not as penitential a season as Lent. It is a time
for calm and thoughtfulness before the hustle and bustle of preparation for Christmas.