19 November 2007

As Advent Approaches

Remember that Lutheran Service Book Agenda includes a rite for "Blessing of the Advent Wreath" on pp. 309-310 for use on the First Sunday in Advent. It includes these words:

"Beloved in the Lord, as we begin the season of Advent, let this wreath remind us that Jesus Christ came to conquer the darkness of sin and to lead us into the light of His glorious kingdom. As the prophet Isaiah says, 'The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.'"

The prayer in the rite includes the petition:

"enkindle in our hearts the fire of Your love that we may receive You with joy and gladness."

11 comments:

Pr. H. R. said...

Of course, you'll also want to get a set of rose vestments and paraments to go with the third Sunday in Advent. Like these:
http://www1.snapfish.com/shareereg/p=443181174271195315/l=252865603/g=46579848/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB/pns/share/p=443181174271195315/l=252865603/g=46579848/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

+HRC
DK Brunner & Son Vestments

William Weedon said...

I must have missed that rose rubric in LSB. ;) My altar book says: "Blue or Violet."

Anonymous said...

While I doubt anyone is ever completely consistent in so doing, there is something to be said for following/adhering to what a certain ecclesial communion's Prayer Book/Agenda/Service Book proscribes for a certain Sunday or Feast (Major or Minor), i.e. liturgical colour, readings, etc.

Anonymous said...

Does the rite actually use words to bless the wreath?
dpharr

William Weedon said...

Yup. "The Lord Almighty, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless this wreath for use in His Church throughout this holy season of Advent." After this the hymn "The Advent of our King" is to be sung.

William Weedon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
William Weedon said...

Bryce,

I concur, and so, I suspect, does Pastor Curtis. Yet local variation in ceremony has always been honored in the Church, and even though the LSB itself does not prescribe rose for Gaudete, it is a well known practice and is even mentioned in the Altar Guild book for LW and, I believe, also in the updated version coming out for LSB. Besides, when you've got PINK vestments, you gotta wear 'em sometime. ;)

Anonymous said...

William,
Oh most definitely, local variation is fine and dandy. I have just have my own "hang-ups" and "pet-peeves" which were implicitly expressed in my earlier post.

Anonymous said...

glad to hear that the wreath is actually blessed :)
dp

Pr. H. R. said...

Good words on local custom allowing for variation within established norms. That should always be our goal in our liturgical discussions and encouraging brothers to walk with us. If we all stand up and say, "We're going to do LSB by the book with no variation" - we will not encourage many less liturgical brethren to follow. I think we need to show examples of what a healthy and wise use of local custom within the norms established by LSB looks like: that will encourage brothers to understand that asking for basic uniformity is not the same as asking for all Christian freedom and local color to be thrown away.

Speaking of. . . It's a weird sort of purity that would insist on blue/violet for Gaudete. It comes from the three-year lectionary which feels no need to "lighten up" one Sunday, because the whole thing is more light than the Historic Advent (more hope than repentance).

But that said, and LSB's rubrics aside, you must needs go to the real rubric book for the answer: the CPH catalogue. Which sells only 3-blue/violet, 1-rose advent wreaths. I rest my case :)

+HRC

Anonymous said...

I was not so much calling for "complete uniformity", etc.

Instead I was simply commenting on what I perceive to be a "holier than thou" attitude adopted by some who use the one-year lectionary in its fullness. While I accuse no one specifically on this blog thread of that attitude, I apologize if the mention of the "historic" colour for something triggered that response from me. I always get the impression that the "historic one-year" crowd concedes the use of the 3-year lectionary to their brothers & sisters in one breath and looks down their noses at them in the next.

I do find it odd that advent wreaths are still produced with one pink candle. Doesn't make much sense for 3-year crowd.