We begin the Advent Season! There are 3 purple candles and 1 pink candle. These help us to count the time until the birthday of Christ! The Advent Wreath is round symbolizing that God is forever the Alpha and Omega without beginning or end. The green of the evergreen symbolizes everlasting life. What better way to live forever, but with Jesus and all the Saints in Heaven! The purple candles are for preparation for the birthday of Christ. To prepare for a great feast, one cleans well and makes sure everything is clean! The pink is for joyfulness (3rd week) that we are almost to the birthday of Christ! Also the world today is in great need to joyfulness!
The readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent:
Reading 1JER 33:14-16
I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot ; he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”
Reading 21 THES 3:12—4:2
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all, just as we have for you,
so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God
and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
GospelLK 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”