Advent

... is the beginning of the Christian year and it is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ in his incarnation, and also looks ahead to his final advent as judge at the end of time. The characteristic note of Advent is therefore expectation. The fundamental Advent prayer is ‘Maranatha’ – ‘Our Lord, come’.

In England the Advent season falls at the darkest time of the year, and the natural symbols of darkness and light are powerfully at work throughout Advent and Christmas. The lighting of candles on an Advent wreath was imported into Britain from northern Europe in the nineteenth century, and is now a popular practice.

Check out 'WAIT...' at the front of St Edmund's church building (the photo above)

Here is a poen writeen by Naimi Elliott who also installed the 'WAIT...' light at teh front of St Edmunds;

w a i t

I ask a moment of your time

As you wait for a bus

Or perhaps ponder upon the lit-up sign

To wait

on the word ‘wait’

For its the season of patient anticipation,

The voluminous letters embodying the pregnant expectation

of the arrival – the Advent – of the Saviour,

the coming of the Christ King

but in a manner so unforeseen

as a child:

the babe in the manger

hence the text stretches beyond the frame

breaking expectations:

for this was an event that could not be contained

And heralds something new

(although longed-for from of old)

Thus right now as of then

the bright lights symbolise  

Hope

in a darkened world

And so the extended line of light

leaves both a question and an answer,

Inviting you to wonder