About Advent Wreath-making
In the Episcopal Church, the Advent Wreath is a visual symbol that marks the progress of the season of Advent. It typically has four candles representing the four Sundays of Advent, and may also include a white “Christ candle” that is lighted on Christmas Eve. The colors for the four surrounding Advent candles are violet or blue and rose, corresponding with the colors of the liturgical vestments for the Sundays of Advent. Rose is the liturgical color for the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word meaning “rejoice ye”, it is a pause in the penitential spirit of Advent. As such, the third candle, representing joy, is often a different color from the other three.
The Advent wreath is a visual symbol marking the Advent season’s progress. This practice originated as a domestic devotion opportunity for household prayer and is now often included in community worship spaces. The wreath, candles, and weekly prayers function as a simple but meaningful countdown timer for the passage of Advent, which leads us to Christmastide.
Collect for Advent 1
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.