ADVENT is the first season of the Christian Calendar and begins four Sundays before Christmas. The word “Advent” means “The Arrival Of”, and refers to the coming of Christ into the world. The season’s colour is purple, symbolising penitence and preparation for the anticipated Messiah. The Advent Candles, an arrangement of three purple candles symbolising Hope (Isaiah), Peace (John the Baptist), and Love (Holy Trinity), a pink candle symbolising Joy (Mary, Mother of Jesus), and a central white candle symbolising Christ, are usually placed on the altar, with one coloured candle lit each Sunday, and the white candle lit on Christmas Day. 

This Sunday, we light the first candle, the Isaiah candle which symbolises Hope. Isaiah 7:14 prophesied 800 years before Christ’s birth, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Later, in chapter 53:5, Isaiah prophesied the reason for His coming, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” May we be filled with the hope of His Second Coming.