DAY 9

“Is it Christmas yet?”

The modern Advent wreath took shape when Johann Hinrich Wichem (1808–1881), a pastor in Germany working among the poor, created a wreath because children at the mission school Rauhes Haus, would ask him daily if Christmas had arrived. In 1839, he built a large wooden ring (made out of an old cartwheel) with 20 small red and 4 large white candles. A small candle was lit successively every weekday and Saturday during Advent. On Sundays, a large white candle was lit.

It has developed since then, and we now have the version with 4 red or purple candles and the white one lit on Christmas day, or eve.

Advent wreaths are circular representing God's infinite love and are usually made of green leaves, which "represent the hope of eternal life” brought by Jesus. The four candles represent the hope of Christ’s coming, interpreted in different ways. The white candle represents the coming of Christ, the light of the world. Linda has made a beautiful advent wreath for us in church (please see below)

I love the thought of Johann lifting the children’s excitement and impatience to get to Christmas into an affirmation of their ‘waiting’, marking each day’s ‘wait’ with a lit candle.

The Advent Wreath symbolises our ‘wait’ for the light, hope and love of the coming Kingdom of Christ. We may not understand how, but as we wait in the hope of Christ's first advent, or arrival, we nurture a future hope, like eyes adjusting to a difference in light levels, we become more sensitive to catching glimpses of a new world that is possible. So let’s be holy impatient for that kingdom. We may not be able to understand it all, but the joy of Christmas points us to an eternal joy, a kingdom that will not get worn down and worn out, but will be new every morning!

May your waiting be affirmed today.