A New Tradition
My wife, much to my delight, recently suggested introducing an Advent Wreath to our children an idea that 10 years ago would have been heresy sacrilege (I'm only slightly exaggerating).
Growing up the Advent Wreath was an ever present Christmas tradition both in corporate worship times and at home. I have some great memories of lighting the candles during services and always arguing about who got to light the Christmas candle, usually me or my sister. PK's with membership comes privileges.
A brief explanation; The Advent Wreath has four candles representing the 4000 years between the creation of Adam and Eve and the birth of Christ. You light one candle each week beginning four weeks prior to Christmas (weeks 1-3 the candles are purple, week 4 the candle is pink or rose), with a fifth candle (white) lit on Christmas Day. Full confession, I screwed up the colors when we designed our wreath. I reversed the pink and purple.
Image from Wikipedia
The coolest thing about this "new" tradition at our house is getting to talk as a family about what the candles represent. Week 1 is Hope. It was a real treat to sit around the table and listen to our kids discuss what Hope means for the Believer and how it relates to Christmas. We talked about how the Children of Israel HOPED for a Saviour and how Jesus fulfilled that HOPE. We talked about how through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus we have the HOPE of a renewed relationship with God the Father. And finally we live with the HOPE of seeing Jesus again upon his return.
I cannot think of a better way to begin the Christmas Holidays than to focus on the HOPE we have in Christ alone.
Growing up the Advent Wreath was an ever present Christmas tradition both in corporate worship times and at home. I have some great memories of lighting the candles during services and always arguing about who got to light the Christmas candle, usually me or my sister. PK's with membership comes privileges.
A brief explanation; The Advent Wreath has four candles representing the 4000 years between the creation of Adam and Eve and the birth of Christ. You light one candle each week beginning four weeks prior to Christmas (weeks 1-3 the candles are purple, week 4 the candle is pink or rose), with a fifth candle (white) lit on Christmas Day. Full confession, I screwed up the colors when we designed our wreath. I reversed the pink and purple.
Image from WikipediaThe coolest thing about this "new" tradition at our house is getting to talk as a family about what the candles represent. Week 1 is Hope. It was a real treat to sit around the table and listen to our kids discuss what Hope means for the Believer and how it relates to Christmas. We talked about how the Children of Israel HOPED for a Saviour and how Jesus fulfilled that HOPE. We talked about how through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus we have the HOPE of a renewed relationship with God the Father. And finally we live with the HOPE of seeing Jesus again upon his return.
I cannot think of a better way to begin the Christmas Holidays than to focus on the HOPE we have in Christ alone.
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