The Advent Candle

I’m blogging from a coffeehouse, listening to my iPod, Bible open next to me. How pomo/emergent-ish is this scene?

Anyway . . . last week, my family had the privilege of lighting the Advent Candle at the beginning of last week’s liturgy. Zoë was excited to do this, and as Greg said “Amen” at the end of his opening prayer, Zoë (as quietly as she could muster, which wasn’t at all) said “let’s go!”

There was a scripture reading for each candle to be lit (three, as it was the third week of Advent). I held my little girl in my arms and read each passage, and Amy lit each candle after each passage was finished.

Simple acts, but for the first time, I felt as if we were participating with the angels and the ascended saints in the worship of the incarnate Christ.

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.