聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Members of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church at Kamsack celebrated the beginning of Advent on November 29 with Rev. Archdeacon Kim Salo and Rev. Nancy Brunt in attendance.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The children of the congregation were invited to light the first candle on the Advent wreath and then the Holy Eucharist was celebrated.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A Christmas tree was decorated, lunch was served and then everyone went into the lower hall where the children were involved in painting Christmas ornaments, decorating Christmas cookies, assembling nativity decorations, doing puzzles and preparing gifts for people who will be in the hospital over the Christmas period.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淟ong ago the people in Northern Europe made the first wreaths, bending evergreen branches, a symbol of everlasting life, into a circle, which, having no beginning and no end, represents eternity,鈥� said information from the congregation.
鈥淭he wreath symbolizes our eternal life in Christ; the four candles remind us that Christ is the Light of the world,鈥� the information said. 鈥淥ne new candle is lit each Sunday successively during Advent so that by the fourth Sunday all the candles are lit.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he increasing light reminds us of the gradual revelation to Israel of the coming of Christ,鈥� it said. 鈥淔or some the third candle is traditionally a rose colour, from the ancient 鈥榬ejoyce鈥� introit of the third Sunday, reminding us of the great joy of Christ鈥檚 coming into the world.
鈥淪ome call the rose or pink candle the 鈥楳ary candle鈥� for Jesus鈥� mother. A large, white 鈥楥hrist candle鈥� is usually in the centre of the wreath, but not lit until Christmas. The coloured candles may be exchanged for white to burn during the 12 days of Christmas.鈥�
