Garlands

If you grew up with Advent wreaths at home or church, I’m curious- what color were your four Advent candles? Were they blue, white, or red? Purple and pink? At the turn of the last century, the candle companies decided they would make more money if they made purple candles for Hope, Peace, and Love to add to the traditional rose color for Joy. In my UCC churches, we always planned Advent around those four traditional themes.

This year I wish I had an Advent wreath I could wear on my head, like Santa Lucia. Isaiah says “God will provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit” (61:3). What would it feel like to be adorned with Advent like a garland? To trade a sad and fainting spirit for a mantle of praise and victory? In my life, the Advent virtue of hope might look like taking action. Peace might look like sitting down for a face to face conversation. Love might look like spending more time enjoying God’s presence. And joy depends on forgiving myself and moving through hard emotions.

Whatever Advent means to you, ask God to provide it in your daily life. And when you feel Christ returning to you, wear that feeling as consciously as you would ashes on Ash Wednesday. No one will make any money- but you might be transformed.

with love, Pr. Chelsea