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Christmas Time in Oman: Part 1, ADVENT WREATHS
By Kevin Stoda
Advent time in Oman has been fascinating--and quite different from what I am used to in the USA and in most any country I have been to. (I have been in 102 countries so far.)
First of all the advent wreath in my local protestant congregation was lit on a Friday for the first time--4 weeks and two days prior to Christmas. This is because my regular fellowship meets in its own Church Hall only on Fridays regularly. This is because in the Middle East Friday is a day off--not Saturday, nor Sunday.
I should also note that it is quite difficult to buy or find an
advent wreath and its candles here in Oman. Because of this, our advent
wreath arrived only minutes prior to the church service and all of its
candles were white.
NOTE: Most Advent wreaths use three colors -- purple, pink, and white.
However, some may use blue in place of the purple. Here are the
backgrounds on the candles and what there symbolism is.
1st CANDLE -- (purple) THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF HOPE -- We can
have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to
us. Our hope comes from God. "And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of
Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the
Gentiles will hope in him.' May the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by
the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:12-13)
2nd CANDLE -- (purple) THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF
PREPARATION -- God kept his promise of a Savior who would be born in
Bethlehem. Preparation means to "get ready". Help us to be ready to
welcome YOU, O GOD! "As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah
the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way
for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled
in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become
straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's
salvation." (Luke 3:4-6)
3rd CANDLE -- (pink) THE SHEPHERD CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF JOY -- The
angels sang a message of JOY! ""and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living
out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do
not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of
the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his
favor rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (Luke
2:7-15)
4th CANDLE -- (purple) THE ANGEL CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF LOVE -- The
angles announced the good news of a Savior. God sent his only Son to
earth to save us, because he loves us! "For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John
3:16-17)
5th CANDLE -- (white) "CHRIST CANDLE" -- The white candle reminds us
that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His
birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! "The next day
John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world!"" (John 1:29) "Now there was a man of
the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.
He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher
who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs
you are doing if God were not with him.' In reply Jesus declared, "I
tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born
again.' "How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked.
"Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be
born!' Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives
birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be
surprised at my saying, "You must be born again.' The wind blows
wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it
comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the
Spirit."" (John 3:1-8)
The first Sunday the church asks the youngest child present to light the advent season's first candle.
However, as my daughter is only 1 - years old and was in the
nursery, she wasn't invited to light the candle. I'm not sure she would
have done a good job. She had trouble even blowing out a candle her
first birthday.
Perhaps next year".
Continued here
