Advent: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Advent is the first season of the Church year. It lasts for four weeks leading up to Christmas Day on December 25. “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming or arrival.” Used by the Church, the word refers to two things. First, it speaks of Jesus Christ’s appearance at his birth on the first Christmas Day. Second, it heralds the second appearance of Jesus Christ when, as the faithful believe, he returns to judge the living and the dead.
Advent braids together these two longings—ancient and ongoing—into a single season of watchfulness. It asks the Church to inhabit Israel’s story even as it awakens our own hope, letting Christ’s first coming illuminate his second.
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Advent Remembers Israel’s Longing
In the prophets’ poetry and in the psalms of exile, Israel waits for God to act decisively: to heal the breach, restore justice, and dwell with his people once again. The season’s early readings—Isaiah’s visions of light breaking over a people in darkness (Isaiah 9:2), Jeremiah’s promise of a righteous branch (Jeremiah 23:5), Malachi’s refining fire (Malachi 3:2-3)—place the Church inside that ancient ache. We remember that the Incarnation was not an isolated miracle but the culmination of centuries of yearning. By praying those texts, we do not treat Israel’s hope as a mere prelude; we adopt it as our own, acknowledging that the Messiah’s birth fulfills what God pledged “to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”
In his article on “The Good Grief of Advent,” Jacob Davis explains how Advent allows space for the recognition of longing and loss:
You know the scene. Charlie Brown has been dealing with more than his share of the winter blues. Leaning on their iconic brick wall, he confesses to his good friend Linus that, despite all the holly jolly festivities, he can’t seem to feel happy. This is the time of year I am most like Charlie Brown in that famous 1965 TV special. The “holiday season” is here, and I’m not feeling it. It’s not just me, though. Many have a hard time conjuring the seemingly expected happiness. For us, such emotion is elusive this time of year. Therefore, it’s appropriate that Advent is here to give voice to our melancholy.
Advent Looks to the Future
Before we ever approach Bethlehem, however, Advent confronts us with the Son of Man coming in glory, the upheaval of the nations, and the final setting-right of all things. The season begins not in nostalgia but in eschatological urgency. The Church confesses that the Christ who came in humility will return in majesty.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1 John 3:2, 3
Advent teaches us to live in that tension—rejoicing in a salvation already given, yet yearning for its full consummation. Hope becomes not vague optimism but disciplined attention to the promises Christ has not yet fulfilled.
Therefore, the season of Advent is a time of preparation—of waiting for the day when Christ will make all things new.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
2 Peter 3:11-14
As the Israelites awaited a Messiah to fulfill God’s promises from Genesis 3:15 to Jeremiah 31:31-34 and beyond, so Christians await the return of Jesus the Messiah to make all things new (Revelation 21).
Advent Purple or Advent Blue?
Anglican parishes typically use purple or blue for Advent vestments and paraments. Which is better? Both colors have their rationale, as Peter Johnston writes in his article “Blue is for Beginnings“:
Many churches use purple during Advent rather than blue. Purple is a good option because it brings out the sense of penitential waiting that characterizes Advent, as we wait for the coming of Christ. In this regard, Advent mirrors Lent, which also features the color purple.
To my mind, however, blue more effectively brings out the sense of hope that characterizes Advent, as we look with expectation to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Moreover, the use of blue has such an extensive Biblical basis, especially when it comes to priestly vestments, that it would seem like a major loss to exclude blue from the calendar entirely.
Common Practices for Advent
Several practices are standard during the Advent season.
- Advent wreaths are a popular tradition, with a rich symbolism. Its circular shape denotes God’s endlessness, love for mankind, and immortality. Eternal life is seated in Immanuel. The boughs show our hope in his return; Christ was born in the dead of winter to bring new life for mankind. Lastly, the candles represent the four-week duration of the Advent season, while the special fifth “Christ candle” signifies that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12).
- Another popular tradition is to keep an Advent calendar.
- Read Ashley Tumlin Wallace’s book The Liturgical Home: Advent, published by Anglican Compass, for more ideas about how to observe Advent with friends and family!
- Visit our Advent page for all of our resources on the season.
Advent Collects and Collect Reflections
In the Anglican tradition, each week of the Church year has a special prayer, called a “collect,” used during Sunday worship and then for the following week. Here are the collects for Advent. If you click on the titles, it will take you to the Anglican Compass Collect Reflection for that week—a short blog post to help you reflect on the collect!
The First Sunday in Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for the First Sunday in Advent, pg., 2019 Book of Common Prayer
Second Sunday of Advent
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, pg., 2019 Book of Common Prayer
Third Sunday of Advent
O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent, pg., 2019 Book of Common Prayer
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, pg., 2019 Book of Common Prayer
Advent Music vs. Christmas Music
Perhaps the classic piece of Advent music is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” because it reflects Advent’s emphasis on waiting and expectation. The seven verses of this hymn come from a medieval tradition called the “O Antiphons,” each representing a different messianic title in scripture. These Antiphons can be celebrated in the week leading up to Christmas. Be sure to read our articles on each, as follows:
- December 17 – O Sapientia: O Wisdom From On High
- December 18 – O Adonai: O Lord of Might
- December 19 – O Radix Jesse: O Root of Jesse
- December 20 – O Clavis David: O Key of David
- December 21 – O Oriens: O Dayspring
- December 22 – O Rex Gentium: O Desire of Nations
- December 23 – O Emmanuel: O Come Emmanuel
Christmas music, on the other hand, properly begins on December 24th, Christmas Eve, and emphasizes the joyful celebration of Christ’s incarnation. Think of “O Come All Ye Faithful” or “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
In the Anglican church around the world, one of most common Advent and Christmas traditions is the service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Made famous by the Boys Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, this service is now celebrated all around the world, typically during Advent or on Christmas Eve. It features readings from the Old Testament that point forward to the birth of Christ, together with the story of the Nativity. And it always begins with a single boy singing the classic Christmas carol, “Once in Royal David’s City.”
Other Resources
Check out the following external resources to learn more about Advent and how to celebrate it:
- Check out this Advent Resource Guide from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
- The Advent Project | Biola University Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts
- Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional, by Paul David Tripp
- Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ, by Fleming Rutledge
- Books and Music for Advent and Christmastide (Renovaré)
Image by MPKphoto from Getty Images Signature, courtesy of Canva. Digitally edited by Jacob Davis.
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