Categories: uncategorized
Date: 02 December 2007 08:25:22
Today is the first Sunday of advent and as such today the first candle will be lit. I love to see the candles being lit (and not only for the reason of seeing people be unable to get them properly alight first go). It's one of those things which, I think, is a practice which reflects something of the true meaning beyond the hype; a sign of the light of the world coming in.
I also have to admit that I enjoy it because in Baptist churches we don't do candles or liturgy much (or atleast not formally) and this is one of the rare times we do engage in these things.
During the research for my dissertation I was also struck by the power of the lighting of the advent calander to involve some of those who may not normally be seen within our churches. Lighting the candle and reading the very brief liturgy is something that does not require a skill, or for the person to be a good orator or particularly good reader. It is a practice which can be used to include and as one of my sample said for her being asked to light the advent candle with her child was quite a powerful symbol of acceptance by the church. This was something I was initially surprised about but the more I reflected the more I have come to understand; involvement within our churches is what stops people feeling like spectators and leads them to feeling they are truly part of the household.