This Sunday marks the first Sunday of Advent as we light the Hope Candle.
Kate Bowler is a wonderful writer and serves on the faculty of Duke Divinity School. She writes: The tradition of lighting an Advent wreath actually started in a 19th-century German orphanage called “Rauhes Haus.”: To help the children count down the days to Christmas and mange their excitement, he constructed the first Advent wreath from a large cartwheel, placing 24 candles on it: four large white candles for Sundays and 19 small red candles for the weekdays of Advent. Each day, a new candle was lit, teaching the children both patience and the significance of Advent. The tradition continues, inviting us all to push back the darkness one light at a time.
Traditions are important and we will journey through Advent on a familiar path that will hopefully invite new and surprising divine celebrations of the birth of the Christ child. We of all people know “the reason for the season.” Lets not miss a single gift.
Brave Journey,
Bill
