Welcome to the Season of Advent at Trinity United Methodist Church. Advent is the season of waiting and preparing. It is rich with symbolism. The season is marked by the color purple. The paraments on the lectern and the pulpit portray a crown and an olive branch, which reminds us that the One for whom we wait is the “Prince of Peace.” There is also the Advent wreath; its circular nature, with no beginning and no end, is reminiscent of God’s infinite nature and the eternal life found through faith in Christ.
The branches of the Advent wreath are symbolic of the promise of new life that comes with the spring. The color of each of the candles holds special meaning as well. Purple symbolizes expectation, royalty, and penitence, and the pink candle symbolizes joy. The white candle in the middle of the wreath symbolizes the purity of Christ’s light to the world.
Advent is a season of liminal space, a time of “already, but not yet.” Advent informs us simultaneously that we are both “there” and “not quite there.” Historically, we have experienced the “already” with Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. But we simultaneously experience the “not yet” because we await.
We experience the “already” because Christ has established his kingdom on earth. But we wait in the “not yet” for Jesus to return to complete his promise and make all believers co-reigners in his eternal kingdom.
The season of Advent and Christmas can be for all of us a time of returning, a time of claiming our heritage as our own. It’s also a time to grow spiritually. I hope it will be for you a time for moving beyond belief to relationship, a more loving relationship to the people you meet, work and live with and a more loving relationship to God. Come join us on the Advent journey, you will be glad that you did!
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Dr. David V. Calhoun