Do you celebrate Advent?

[PaladinGirl]

Hey everyone! I was just curious as to whether or not Methodists, Nazarenes, and other similar denominations celebrated Advent or not. If you do, how do you celebrate it? I have very limited experience with Methodists and Nazarenes.

[Hediru]

Yes, we have advent in the Methodist church. My guess is that it is not very different from the Catholic advent. We have advent wreaths in the sanctuary with either 4 blue candles, or 3 purple and 1 pink. In the center is the Christ candle which is lit Christmas Eve. All 5 candles remain lit during Christmastide. We also read and hear sermons based on the Christmas story, usually from the lectionary, as we prepare for the coming of Christ. Occasionally, the children will prepare a Christmas pagaent or play and the choir may prepare a cantata. We also spend one day decorating the church for Christmas. It is a very, very, busy but worthwhile time of the year!

[Qyöt27]

Denominationally, Hediru already answered that question.

At my particular church it's celebrated, but my family doesn't do it at home anymore. Our parents tried to a couple of times when me and my sisters were little, but it didn't really work out too well, apparently. I mean, we decorate for Christmas (although we did so unusally late this year because our living room was a mess from having repainted and put new carpet in one of the bedrooms), but having reading and lighting candles, no.

[markbelieves]

Yes, we do acknowledge the advent season at our church and at home. Advent wreath, readings relevent to the season, etc.


Mark

[AquilaGT]

Hediru's description sounds like my UMC, and the same as any others I have knowledge of. Advent and Lent are both seasons of the Church that get a great deal of focus in the Methodist church.