Presbyter's Ramblings

  PRESBYTER'S RAMBLINGS

As we enter December we begin the new Church year.

The 2024-2025 year focuses on the Gospel of Luke. The month of December covers two Church seasons, Advent and the beginning of Christmas. The four Sundays in Advent introduce four themes; hope, peace, joy and love. We will light four candles, one for each of the four Advent themes. Towards the  end of December we will light a fifth candle, the Christ Candle on the 25^th of December.

 Advent marks the start of the new liturgical year. We will be telling the Lukan Christmas Story initially, through the lenses of the four Advent themes.

We don`t know when Western Christianity began observing Advent. Most likely it was first celebrated between the late fifth century and the mid sixth century.  The purpose of Advent was initially to regulate when monks began their fasting. Advent also had a strong eschatological connection to the Second Coming.

 Bishop Perpetuus of Tours is regarded as the first bishop to introduce the celebration. Initially monks were ordered to fast three times a week.

The sermons  of Gregory the Great, the Pope between 590 – 604, reveal the length of  Advent- the four Sundays before Christmas. This liturgical season has been around for a long time.

 Advent  is a season of preparation which retains a future focus. It is celebrated in many different ways  around the world. For us we use the tradition to focus on building the Kingdom of God the  Commonwealth of Love. We look to the needs of others. We do this through Christian World Service`s Christmas Appeal.

The focus this year is on the climate with the theme being:

“Give  Climate Hope this Christmas.

                                                                        Andrew.