Four Weeks of Advent Candles and Their Meanings – Week 3

During the month of December, I’ve focused on Advent candles and their meanings. The first two candles were purple, and they represent hope and peace. This past Sunday, we lit the Joy candle.

This week as we take a look at the third candle, note that its color is pink, and it represents the joy we all feel at the birth of our Savior. Also note that it is often referred to as the Shepherd Candle. The shepherds who saw the star that night, and who heard the hosts of angels singing, rejoiced at the Good News.

PINK IS FOR REJOICING

Four Weeks of Advent Candles and Their Meanings - Week 3 @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #Advent #writing Share on X

You may ask why the color of the candle changes to pink. This comes from the Roman Catholic calendar for the church year. In that tradition, this Sunday is called Gaudette Sunday. It comes from the Latin, Gaudeamus (said gow-day-AH -moos), for Rejoice, particularly, Rejoice in the Lord always.

On the third Sunday, the tone of celebration was lightened. The clergy wore pink-toned vestments rather than the deeper purple ones they’d been wearing. Hence, another name for this particular Sunday—Rose Sunday.

None of the churches of which I’ve been a member wore pink vestments. They kept their purple stoles, but the candle was pink. From what I’ve discovered in researching this, many Episcopal churches follow Roman Catholic traditions, but many do not.

THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN COLOR

In the churches of which I’ve been a member in the past, Methodist and Presbyterian, our clergy wore black robes year round. It was only their stoles that changed in color. Most of the year was called Ordinary Time and the color for those days was green. For Lent and Advent, they wore purple. Pentecost Sunday was red, and most of the congregation would dress in some shade of red. Christmas Day, Easter, and a few other days would be white. The church was draped in black for Good Friday in observance of the dark hours. This made Easter Sunday so much more joyful!

SCRIPTURES ABOUT JOY

The selected Scripture for the third Sunday in Advent comes from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (did you know this is known as the JOY book?)

Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! (TCJSB, Phil. 4:4-5).

Other Scriptures that speak of joy, all from TCJSB:

May God, the source of hope, fill you completely with joy and shalom as you continue trusting, so that by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) you may overflow with hope.

(Romans 15:13).

I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete (John 15:11).

You make me know the path of life; in your presence is unbounded joy, in your right hand, eternal delight (Psalm 16:11).

 

As you reflect on all that Christ’s birth means to you, may your hearts be filled with unspeakable joy, the Peace that passes all understanding, and the Hope of the world—Jesus Christ.

Blessings, y’all!

Sorry, no video, but glorious singing! I have a handful of friends who attended Westminster Choir College. If you’ve never seen their handbell choir, look them up on YouTube. You won’t believe your eyes! Or the sounds!