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ADVENT, CHRISTMAS,
& EPIPHANY

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son."
(John 1:14)

Advent and Christmas mark the beginning of the Church's year. The "incarnational" seasons are reminders and celebrations of the divine desire to be "born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:7) so that God might draw us back to God's self and that we might live the Trinitarian life. The season after Epiphany reveals the depth and breadth of the Incarnation as Jesus is revealed as Messiah and Lord.

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Advent

Advent, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, is the first season of the Church's year. The name is derived from the Latin word for "coming." The name points to the season being a time of preparation and expectation for the Lord's coming among us - firstly, in recollection of the nativity and, secondly, in anticipation of Christ coming again "in power and glory." The tradition of keeping Advent began as early as the 4th century CE.

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The liturgical color for Advent is purple or sarum blue - colors which reflect royalty.

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​The Advent Wreath has a long tradition in Western Christianity. The best evidence suggests that its origins lay with pre-Christian Germanic peoples who used wreathes with lit candles during the cold and dark days of winter as a sign of hope in the future warmth and sunlight of Spring. Meanwhile, Scandinavians lit candles in winter around a wheel, offering prayers to their god of light to turn “the wheel of the earth” back toward the sun to restore warmth.

 

In the Middle Ages, Christians adapted this tradition (called syncretizing) and used Advent wreathes as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. Christ is, after all, “the Light that came into the world” to dispel the darkness of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (see John 3:19-21). By 1600, Catholics and Lutherans alike had adapted formal practices surrounding the lighting of the Advent wreath.

The symbolism of the Advent wreath is quite striking. The wreath, itself, is made of various evergreens which signifies continuous life. Forming the wreath in a circle, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ,

 

The four candles (three purple and one pink) are lit successively over the four Sundays/weeks of Advent reminding us of the passage of time and deepening our anticipation. Combined with prayers and devotions, the Advent Wreath serves as a point of reflection on four key Advent themes: hope, peace, joy, and love.

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Christmas

Christmas Day, the feast of the Incarnation, is fixed on the Christian calendar on December 25. Christmas is the remembrance of the historical event of Jesus' birth - the birth of the son of God by a human mother, Mary. Seen through filtered Christian lenses, Christmas is the fulfillment of the promise that God made to Israel through their ancestors: namely, the coming of the Messiah (Christ) who would sit on the throne of David to redeem the people. Recollections of Jesus' birth (or, at least, legends surrounding it) occurred early in Christianity and were recorded with some detail in two of the four gospels (Matthew 1-2 & Luke 1-2). The date of December 25 was chosen by Pope Julius I around 350 CE, a date which spread and reached the farthest reaches of Western Christianity (Great Britain) by the 6th century CE.​

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The liturgical color for Christmas is white or gold, colors of celebration and glorification.​

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Epiphany

Epiphany Day is fixed on January 6. It is one of the seven principal feasts of the church year. The word "Epiphany" comes from a Greek word meaning "to show forth" or "manifest," and it refers to the revelation of God through Jesus to all people. Specifically, the feast recalls the visit of the magi from the East to the Christ-child in Bethlehem (see Matt. 2:1-12).

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The season after Epiphany reveals the depth and breadth of the Incarnation. Over the Sundays after Epiphany, the church recount various events that manifest the divine in and through Jesus. The first Sunday after Epiphany is known as The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord and recalls Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan as a fulfillment of all righteousness. It is the beginning of Jesus' ministry. The feast is important for Christians because it serves as a reminder of our own baptisms when we became members of the household of God, beginning our spiritual journey and embarking on our own lives of ministry. The last Sunday after Epiphany is always devoted to the Transfiguration and the dramatic revelation of Jesus' identity as the Son of God. 

 

There are several important feasts in the Season after Epiphany:

 

  • The Baptism of our Lord - 1st Sunday after Epiphany, the church celebrates Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan 

  • The Presentation - On February 2, the Church commemorates Jesus' presentation by Joseph and Mary in the Temple in Jerusalem and their encounters with Simeon and Anna.

 

The Liturgical color for the Epiphany and the Baptism of our Lord is white. The liturgical color for the remainder of the season after Epiphany is green.

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A Note from the Rector

OUR CALENDAR FOR
ADVENT, CHRISTMAS, & EPIPHANY

Advent Program

Wednesdays, 6 pm

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Christmas Eve Services

6 pm & 9 pm

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Christmas Day Service

10 am

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Epiphany Day Service

6:00 pm

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