Saint George's Anglican Church

Originally the Advent wreath might have been a cart wheel, wound with greens and decorated with lights, strung up in the halls of the sun worshipping tribes of Northern Europe. To appease their “hidden” god during the darkest winter days they took a wheel from their cart, sacrificing, as it were, its use, while they pondered about the blessings of light and life and implored the sun god to return to them.
 
The wreath without beginning or end stands for eternity; the greens for life and growth; the four candles represent the ages “sitting in darkness and the shadow of death”, each candle adding more light until, on Christmas, the light from the wreath sets off, as it were, the blaze of light on the “tree of life”, the Christmas tree, for the time is fulfilled.
 
And so, the burning candles remind us of the shortness of time until Christmas, that Christ will come again in judgment and that his light is the true light that dispels the darkness of sin. The pink candle is in honor of our Lord’s Mother and is to remind us of her obedience and how we should follow her example.

How to make it.

You will need four or five good evergreen branches, four candles (three purple and one pink), four candle holders, a hoop of some sort, and a few yards of purple ribbon if you wish. The hoop could be a barrel hoop, willows or reeds tied into shape; or even bent coat hangers; anything that will give a solid foundation for your wreath. The greens can then be tied to the hoop and the candles spaced equally around the wreath. If you wish to hang your wreath it needs to be fairly rigid and the candleholders need to be firmly attached. If you hang it, purple ribbon, cord, or sash chain all work well. If you have no place to hang the wreath, it can sit on a small table by itself or in the centre of the dinner table, and the greens can be arranged in a circle around the four candles; in this case, they don’t need to be tied. It might be a good idea to set the wreath on a tray or a piece of plywood so that it can be moved during the season without disturbing it.

After Advent

You can refresh the wreath with new greens; and, if you wish, replace the four candles with four white candles that can be burned until the end of the Christmas season at Epiphany. Another tradition is to place a large white candle in the centre of the wreath at Christmas as the “Christ Candle” and burn all five for the rest of the season.

The Ceremony of the Wreath

The blessing of the wreath should take place the eve of the first Sunday in Advent. The whole family should take part in the preparation of the wreath. Before the evening meal the head of the household leads the ceremony in the presence of the entire family. The following prayers are suggested:

Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Others: Who made heaven and earth.
Leader: Let us Pray.
O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth thy blessing upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from Thee abundant graces. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

The First Week

One purple candle is lighted by the youngest child and left burning during the evening meal, and you say this prayer:
O Lord, stir up thy power, we beg thee, and come; that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and be saved by Thy deliverance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Second Week
Two purple candles are lighted by the oldest child during this week.
 O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare the ways of thine only Begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with purified minds. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Third Week
Two purple candles and the pink one are lighted by the Mother during the week.
 O Lord, we beseech Thee, incline thine ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Fourth Week
All four candles are lighted by the Father during this week.
 O Lord, we beseech Thee, stir up Thy power and come; and with Thy great might deliver us, that with the help of Thy grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE “O” ANTHEMS

The Anthems are Used before and after the Magnificat (p, 24, BCP) from December16 until December 24, They proclaim the titles of Our Lord except for the one for December 23 which is addressed to Mary, They have been used by the faithful since the 4th century and are a fitting way to prepare for Christmas.
 
December 16th
O Sapientia (Wisdom) which came out of the mouth of the Most High, and reached from one end to another. mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
 
December 17th
O Adonia (Lord or Master) and leader of the house of Israel,  Who appeared in the bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gave him the Law in Sinai: Come and deliver us with an outstretched arm.
 
December 18th 
O Root of Jesse, which stands for an ensign of the people, at whom all kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentiles shall seek: Come and deliver us and tarry not.

December 19th
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that opens, and no man shuts, and shuts, and no man opens: Come and bring the prisoner out of the prison house.
 
December 20th
O Day-Spring, Brightness of Light Everlasting and Sun of Righteousness: Come and enlighten him that sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.
 
December 21st
O King of Nations, and their desire: the Cornerstone, who made both one: Come and save mankind, whom thou formed of clay.
 
December 22nd
O Emanuel (God with us) our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all the nations, and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
 
December 23rd
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.
 
December 24th
Today read St. Matthew 1:18-21. This night you will witness these great things that are now to happen. With the Angels and your family in his Holy Church give thanks to God for the great gift of his Son.