Musings from the Pastor’s Desk

December 7, 2025

2nd Sunday in Advent

The Advent Wreath

I’ve always loved the Advent wreath. In our early days, our family tradition was to make a wreath out of greens, add the candles, and place it on our dining room table. I tended to make the wreath very large and bushy, symbolizing the overflowing hope, peace, joy, and love we experience as we await the coming of the Christ child. Each Sunday in Advent, Ryan or Kristina would light the candles, and we would recite an Advent prayer.

The Advent wreath is one of the most popular customs of the season. The wreath and winter candle lighting during the increasing darkness highlight some of the Advent images found in the Bible. The continuous circle of greens clearly symbolizes eternal life, a victory wreath, the crown of Christ, or the wheel of time itself. Christians use the wreath as a symbol that Christ enters our time to lead us to the light of everlasting life.

The four candles represent the progression of the four weeks and the increasing light of Advent. The candles symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love. A fifth candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to symbolize the birth of Jesus. 

The four candles of Advent represent the four Sundays and symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love. A fifth candle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to signify the birth of Jesus. At Hope, the wreath has a larger white candle at its center. As a kid, I watched each Advent candle get lit, and as each week passed and more candles were lit, I grew more and more excited about Christmas to come.

Advent candle weeks, names & colors

Advent week 1 – Hope: Prophecy Candle (purple)

Advent week 2 – Peace: Bethlehem Candle (purple)

Advent week 3 – Joy: Shepherd’s Candle (pink)

Advent week 4 – Love: Angel’s Candle (purple)

First Advent Candle/Sunday: Hope

“Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” – C.S. Lewis.

It is only fitting that the first candle on the Advent wreath represents Hope. The first Sunday of Advent not only encourages us to anticipate the birth of Christ but also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. The first candle is purple (sometimes it may be blue), the primary color of Advent, and it symbolizes royalty. Sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle,” the first candle reminds us of Isaiah’s prophecy about Christ’s birth and the promises God made in the Old Testament that the birth of Jesus would fulfill. 

Second Advent Candle/Sunday: Peace

“May we be in this world a ray of that light which shone forth from Bethlehem, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all men and women.” – Pope Francis

The second candle on the Advent wreath symbolizes Peace. Often called the “Bethlehem Candle,” this second Advent candle reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before Jesus was born. Building on the meaning of the Prophecy Candle, it recalls that after all the division, destruction, and dispersion of the kingdom in the Old Testament, there might finally be peace on Earth—Jesus is coming, along with his Kingdom of Peace.

Third Advent Candle/Sunday: Joy – “Gaudete Sunday”

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:10-12)

The third candle of Advent symbolizes Joy. As we get closer to Christmas Day, our joy continues to grow. The third candle reminds us of the joyful anticipation of the shepherds who traveled to see Jesus in Bethlehem, even before the wise men. On this third Sunday of Advent, which the Church calls “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning rejoice or praise, we light the third candle and celebrate like the shepherds. Therefore, the third candle of Advent is known as the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and its color is pink, representing joy in the liturgical colors.

Fourth Advent Candle/Sunday: Love

“And in the end, everything else will turn out to be unimportant and inessential, except for this: Father, Child, and Love.” – St. (Pope) John Paul II

The fourth candle of Advent symbolizes Love, representing God’s ultimate love in sending His only Son for us. Known as the “Angel’s Candle,” it is lit on the Sunday before Christmas and is purple, guiding us to eagerly anticipate the coming of God’s new Kingdom on earth.

Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:30 AM or watch live on Facebook at Hopeclinton. Sunday marks the start of the second week of Advent, a season of waiting and preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth at Christmas and anticipating His second coming.

All are welcome!

Peace+

Pastor Eric