Sunday, Nov. 29, began the season of Advent. For those who may not be familiar with Advent and its tradition, I have included a brief description for you.
The most common Advent candle tradition involves four candles around the wreath. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle represents something different, although traditions vary. Often, the first, second and fourth candles are purple; the third candle is rose-colored. Sometimes all the candles are red. In other traditions, all four candles are blue or white. Occasionally, a fifth white candle is placed in the middle of the wreath and is lit on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
The first candle symbolizes hope, and is called the "Prophet’s Candle." The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival. The purple color symbolizes royalty, repentance and fasting.
The second candle represents faith; and is called "Bethlehem’s Candle." Micah foretold the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David. The second candle is also purple to symbolism preparation for the coming King.
The third candle symbolizes joy, and is called the "Shepherd’s Candle." To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them, too. In liturgy, the color rose signifies joy. This candle is colored pink to represent joyfulness and rejoicing.
The fourth candle represents peace, and is called the "Angel’s Candle." The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace-He came to bring people close to God and to each other again. This color is also purple to represent the culmination of love through the Messiah.
The (optional) fifth candle represents light and purity, and is called "Christ’s candle." It is placed in the middle and is lit on Christmas Day. This candle is white to represent pure light and victory.
Year after year in the small church where I am a member, White Springs United Methodist Church nestled on the banks of the Suwannee River, the advent candles have been lighted in the historic sanctuary since 1890 and really since the establishment of the church in 1850.
I thought about the joys, heartaches, struggles, triumphs and many of the great ceremonies of life that have taken place at the church. Parents who, with joy, presented an infant child for christening, the beautiful face of a bride dressed in all her bridal finery escorted down the aisle to her husband to be on the arm of her father, the beauty of homecoming services and the joy of visiting with those who attended and were part of the church during earlier times, but now live in various parts of the nation or world, and the sadness of bidding farewell to a dear friend or loved one at a funeral service.
I thought of folks who sat in the pews who lived through the first World War, the Great Depression, the great Spanish Flu epidemic, the second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and all the national and international crises in between. And then our pastor, God bless his heart, pastor Brian Leonardson mentioned the Grinch this past Sunday in a sermon.
Well, what immediately came to my mind was taking my niece, then a young child, and one of her friends to see the classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” at the movies.
My mind went in another direction, how this year, with COVID-19, there have been very few opportunities for children to go to a movie theater for several months. There was no homecoming service at our church this year and so much has changed, reduced numbers of people at weddings, funerals and even the Festival of Lights at Stephen Foster this year is drive through only.
A lot changed this year due to the pandemic, and some would think that, like the Grinch, there seems to be something that wants to steal our Christmas. But even the Grinch failed at that, and so will COVID-19.
The candle of hope burned brightly on the advent wreath this past week, lights burned at various places in town, I bought my first Live Oak Church of God fruit cake and Christmas on the Square was marvelous. James Cornett and his staff at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park have done a superb job with their Suwannee Lights at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. My mother made her annual Christmas candy and goodies and sent some through the mail to loved ones. I addressed my first Christmas cards. Yes, I am one of those dinosaurs who sends Christmas cards and I bought Dolly Parton’s Christmas CD and love it.
I thought our present situation with COVID-19 was rather like the Grinch; kind of intent on stealing our joy, but no matter how hard the Grinch tried, Christmas came just the same, and no matter how much COVID-19 has caused lifestyle changes for all of us, Christmas is coming so get out and rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas and enjoy it and celebrate it and share that joy with others.
I have a few recommendations for you during this Christmas season - shop locally where you can and every time you can. Local businesses, restaurants and shops need your support, and we need them. If you can’t get in the mood, go to one of your local public libraries and request a copy of Fannie Flagg’s “A Redbird Christmas.” You will love it. If that doesn’t put you in a Christmas mood, make an appointment to see a medical doctor, you may have a thumping gizzard instead of a heart.
Something else that always puts me in the Christmas mood, believe it or not, is watching “Auntie Mame,” the original with Rosalind Russell, made the year I was born in 1958. When they sing “We Need a Little Christmas Right This Very Minute,” I love it, always do.
From the Eight Mile Still on the Woodpecker Route north of White Springs, wishing you a day filled with joy, peace and above all, lots of love and laughter.