Book of Common Prayer

The First Sunday in Advent being the Fourth Sunday before Christmas Day (Violet or Blue)

Sunday, December 3^rd, 2023

ADVENT

Collect 95 is used every day during the season of Advent.

The Advent Wreath: An Advent wreath may be erected in the church with four candles (rose for Advent III and violet for the other Sundays--the traditional liturgical colours of Advent, but for parishes that use blue during Advent it would be appropriate for the candles to also be blue). These traditionally represent 1) the Patriarchs, 2) the Prophets, 3) John the Baptist, and 4) the Blessed Virgin Mary. Another popular representation is 1) Hope, 2) Peace, 3) Love, and 4) Joy. Some choose to combine these by describing the candle from the one and the intent from the other, for example "We light the candle of Love for the Blessed Virgin Mary". Often a fifth candle (white) is placed in the centre of the wreath to be lit on Christmas Eve and throughout the Christmas season. Each Sunday (beginning with First Evening Prayer), the appropriate number of candles is lit in advance of the formal liturgy. The Book of Occasional Celebrations provides material for the use of the Advent Wreath (A34).

Gloria in Advent: It is customary to omit the Gloria during the season of Advent.

Advent Prose: Many parishes use the Advent Prose during this season. This can be found in many Anglican hymnals.

Ancient Advent Antiphons: The O Antiphons may be said or sung before and after the Magnificat at evening prayer between the 16th and the 23rd of December when Advent enters it final thematic phase anticipating the Nativity of Christ. These antiphons, or refrains, all beginning "O ...", were sung before and after the Magnificat at Vespers, according to the Roman use, on the seven days preceding Christmas Eve (17-23 December). In the medieval rite of Salisbury Cathedral that was widely followed in England before the Reformation, the antiphons began on 16 December and there was an additional antiphon ("O Virgin of virgins") on 23 December; this is reflected in the Calendar of The BCP, where 16 December is designated O Sapientia (O Wisdom). They are addressed to God, calling for him to come as teacher and deliverer, with a tapestry of scriptural titles and pictures that describe his saving work in Christ. It is not known when and by whom the antiphons were composed, but they were already in use by the eighth century. The translations provided are from the English Hymnal, 1933.

Offices: The canticle Surge, Illuminare (p. 28) is suitable for use in Advent in place of the Te Deum at Morning Prayer.

Morning Prayer: (Year II) Invit 1; Ps 9; Is 1:1-20; Rev 2:1-17; Coll 95

Holy Eucharist: Propers 95; Int 25:1-7; Grad 85:4-7; no Gloria

Evening Prayer: Ps 50; Is 2:10-end; Jn 3:1-21; Coll 95