About Advent

Historical Background

Reprinted from Book of Worship © 1986 Office of Church Life and Leadership, 2002 Worship and Education Ministry Team, United Church of Christ. Used by permission.

“Advent is the season of anticipation and preparation that precedes Christmas in the churches in the West. It was first identified in the fourth century by Hilary of Poitiers who indicated that it was observed for a three-week period in Gaul. In some instances the season was related not to Christmas but to the older Eastern feast of Christ’s birth, Epiphany. In the Middle Ages, the Western church gradually reduced the period from an eighth-century pattern of six weeks to four weeks.

Now the first Sunday in Advent is the fourth Sunday before December 25. The focus of the season includes not only preparation for the anniversary of Christ’s birth but also the anticipation of Christ’s return at the close of history. The early festal nature of the season has been rediscovered in this generation. Consequently, the penitential emphasis no longer dominates. The seasonal color, purple, announces Christ’s royalty. In some traditions blue is used, jointly symbolizing royalty and hope.

— quoted from the Introduction to Worship in the United Church of Christ, as posted on the UCC Web Site.

Here at Pilgrim Church

Advent is a very busy time at Pilgrim Church. The season kicks off with the Advent Workshop, usually on the first Sunday afternoon in Advent. While youngsters (of all ages) are doing holiday crafts in Fellowship Hall, many of the rest of the congregation are helping to decorate the interior of the church for the holidays. This is traditionally the day when we put up all the Christmas greenery in the sanctuary.

As Advent progresses, we have special activities involving the entire congregation, such as Christmas caroling and special musical performances. In recent years, we have had a “giving tree”; gifts that are placed on or under the tree will be distributed to local families-in-need.