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The holiday season in the Christian tradition is a time of both anticipation and profound reflection. Long before the festive decorations and carols of Christmas, there is Advent—a quiet, powerful season of waiting. For Methodists, the Advent wreath and its four candles are a central, deeply meaningful part of this spiritual journey. More than just a decoration, this wreath is a liturgical tool that guides the faithful through a narrative of hope, peace, joy, and love, all leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s a tradition that, while shared across many denominations, holds a particular significance within the Methodist context, where personal faith and communal anticipation are so closely intertwined.
In this guide, we’ll unpack the full story of the Methodist Advent candles. We’ll go beyond simply identifying the colors and their meanings, delving into the rich history, deep theology, and practical application of this tradition. We’ll explore why this ritual continues to be a vital spiritual practice for millions of Methodists today, connecting a personal sense of waiting with the universal Christian story of a savior’s promised arrival.
The Foundations of a Sacred Season: What is Advent?
Before we can understand the meaning of the candles, we must first grasp the purpose of the season they represent. Advent is a Latin word meaning “coming” or “arrival.” It’s the first season of the Christian liturgical year, a four-week period of preparation and anticipation that begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30th. This season isn’t just a countdown to Christmas Day; it’s a time of dual reflection on two comings of Christ.
First, Advent is a remembrance of Christ’s first coming—the Incarnation—when he came to Earth as a humble baby in Bethlehem. This is the story we all know, and it forms the basis of our Christmas celebration. But Advent also looks forward to the second coming of Christ, when he will return in glory to fulfill all of God’s promises and establish his eternal kingdom. This dual focus gives Advent its unique blend of joyful anticipation and sober reflection, inviting believers to prepare their hearts for Christ’s arrival in both a historical and a future sense.
The Historical Roots of Advent
The tradition of Advent dates back to the early centuries of the Church. Initially, it wasn’t a period focused on Christmas at all, but rather a time of fasting and preparation for baptisms, particularly in Spain and Gaul, and often lasted for six weeks. Over time, the Church in Rome adopted a four-week period of preparation for Christmas, and by the Middle Ages, the season took on a more unified character. It was marked by a shift from the penitential focus to a more celebratory one, culminating in the joyous birth of Christ.
The Advent wreath itself is a more modern tradition, with its roots tracing back to German Lutherans in the 16th century. It became widely adopted in the 19th century through a Lutheran pastor, Johann Hinrich Wichern, who used a large wreath with candles to help orphans keep track of the days until Christmas. The modern version we know, with four or five candles, was later popularized and adopted by many denominations, including the Methodist Church, as a powerful way to engage the senses and mark the passage of time during this special season.
The Methodist Perspective on Advent
Methodism, with its rich history of connecting personal piety with social justice, has embraced the Advent wreath as a powerful spiritual tool. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, emphasized personal holiness and an experiential faith, and the Advent tradition aligns perfectly with this. The ritual of lighting the candles each week is a tangible, physical act that helps believers slow down, reflect, and prepare their hearts for Christ. It’s a way to actively participate in the story of salvation, rather than just passively observing it.
For Methodists, the Advent candles are a reminder of Wesley’s core beliefs. The weekly themes of hope, peace, joy, and love are not just abstract concepts; they are virtues that we are called to embody in our daily lives. Advent is a time to reflect on our personal journeys of faith and to renew our commitment to living out these virtues in the world. The Advent wreath, therefore, is not just a liturgical object; it’s a visible representation of the spiritual growth and preparation that is so central to Methodist theology. It’s a tool for personal sanctification and a communal reminder of our shared faith and anticipation.
The Advent Wreath: A Symbol of Eternity and Expectation
The Advent wreath is a beautiful and complex symbol, with each of its physical elements contributing to its overall spiritual message. A Methodist Advent wreath typically consists of a circular wreath made of evergreen branches and holds four candles, with a fifth, white candle often placed in the center.
The Circle and Evergreens: Life and Eternity
The most basic part of the wreath is its circular shape. A circle has no beginning and no end, making it a perfect symbol for God’s eternal, unending love. It reminds us that our faith is not a linear path but a continuous journey rooted in the everlasting nature of God. The circular wreath also represents the promise of eternal life that Christ’s coming offers to all who believe.
The evergreen branches—pine, spruce, or fir—used to create the wreath are also deeply symbolic. Evergreens remain green throughout the winter, even when other plants have withered and died. They are a powerful sign of continuous life and the hope of new life to come. In the bleakness of winter, the evergreen wreath is a stark reminder that even in the darkest times, God’s promise of life endures. This symbolism resonates with the central theme of Advent, where we find hope and life in the middle of a world waiting for its savior.
The Candles: Lighting the Path to Christ
The candles are, without a doubt, the most important and dynamic part of the Advent wreath. They serve as a visual, tangible countdown to Christmas. As each candle is lit, the light in the room grows stronger, symbolizing the approaching light of Christ into the world. The gradual increase in light represents the progressive fulfillment of prophecy, starting with the hopeful promises of the Old Testament and culminating in the brilliant light of Christ’s birth.
Typically, there are three purple candles and one pink candle, with an optional white candle in the center. The purple candles symbolize royalty and penitence, while the pink candle represents joy. This specific color scheme and the order in which they are lit tell a story that unfolds over the four weeks of Advent. This story is a narrative of God’s redemptive plan, leading us from a state of waiting and longing to one of jubilant celebration.
Unveiling the Candles: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
The four candles of the Advent wreath are most often assigned a specific theme, and for Methodists, these themes are Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. While the meanings can vary slightly from one tradition to another, the core message remains the same. Each candle represents a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith and a virtue that we are called to reflect on as we prepare for Christmas.
The First Candle: The Candle of Hope
The first candle, a purple one, is lit on the first Sunday of Advent. This is the Candle of Hope. Its color, purple, is traditionally associated with royalty, signifying the coming of the King. It is also a color of penitence, reminding us to prepare our hearts and minds for His arrival.
The theme of hope is central to the entire Advent season. This hope isn’t a wishful thinking; it is a sure, unwavering expectation rooted in God’s promises. This first candle reminds us of the hope that the Old Testament prophets held for a Messiah who would come to save Israel and the world. We can imagine the deep longing of figures like Isaiah, who prophesied, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” This hope is not just a distant promise; it is a living hope that we, as modern believers, inherit.
When we light the first candle, we are reminded of the hope that began with a promise in Genesis and was carried through generations of prophets. We pray for hope in our own lives and in the world, knowing that Christ is our ultimate source of hope. It’s a moment to reflect on our own waiting and to renew our trust in God’s faithfulness. In a world that often feels dark and uncertain, the single flickering light of the first candle is a powerful symbol of the hope that Christ brings.
The Second Candle: The Candle of Peace
The second candle, also purple, is lit on the second Sunday of Advent. This is the Candle of Peace. It continues the theme of preparation and waiting, but shifts our focus to the peace that Christ embodies and offers. This is not just the absence of conflict; it is a deep, spiritual peace known as Shalom.
This candle reminds us that Christ is the Prince of Peace, who came to reconcile humanity with God. He broke down the walls of hostility and offered a peace that “surpasses all understanding.” This peace is both an internal, spiritual state of tranquility and a call to be peacemakers in the world. The second Advent candle is a reminder that as we wait for Christ’s second coming, we are called to be agents of his peace here on Earth, working for justice and reconciliation in our communities and beyond.
The lighting of this candle is a moment for personal and communal prayer for peace. We pray for peace in our own hearts, for peace in our families, and for peace in a world often torn by strife. The two candles burning brightly together symbolize the growing light of Christ’s peace beginning to illuminate the darkness. We reflect on how we can become better stewards of this peace, extending compassion and forgiveness to others as we ourselves have received it from God.
The Third Candle: The Candle of Joy (The Pink Candle)
The third candle, typically a pink or rose-colored one, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent. This is the Candle of Joy. The color pink stands out from the penitential purple, signifying a shift in the mood of the season. This Sunday is sometimes referred to as “Gaudete Sunday,” from the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” It’s a reminder that we are halfway through Advent and the birth of our Savior is near.
The joy symbolized by this candle is not a superficial happiness, but a profound, spiritual joy rooted in the knowledge of God’s love and the certainty of His promise. It’s the joy that the shepherds felt when the angels announced, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” It’s the joy that Mary expressed in her Magnificat, rejoicing in her Savior. It is the deep-seated joy that comes from our salvation and the anticipation of Christ’s presence in the world.
As we light the pink candle, we are invited to feel this celebratory joy and to express it in our worship and our lives. The growing light from the three candles is a visual metaphor for this rising joy as Christmas draws closer. We reflect on the sources of joy in our own lives, and we pray that we can be a source of that same joy for others. This candle serves as a powerful reminder that even in a season of waiting and reflection, there is always room for celebration and gratitude.
The Fourth Candle: The Candle of Love
The fourth and final purple candle is lit on the last Sunday of Advent. This is the Candle of Love. This theme is the culmination of all the others, for hope, peace, and joy are all rooted in God’s love.
This candle reminds us that the entire story of Advent, and indeed the entire story of salvation, is a story of God’s unconditional, boundless love for humanity. The birth of Christ is the ultimate expression of this love—God becoming man, humbling himself to live among us, to save us. As the Apostle John wrote, “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.”
When we light the fourth candle, we reflect on the incredible love that prompted God to send his Son into the world. It’s a moment to consider how we can better live out this love in our own lives, both for God and for our neighbors. The four candles, all burning brightly, represent the full, radiant light of Christ’s love ready to burst forth on Christmas Day. The darkness has been pushed back, and the promise of God is about to be fulfilled. We pray for the grace to receive and to share this divine love with a world in need.
The Christ Candle: The Light of the World
In the center of many Methodist Advent wreaths, you will find a fifth, white candle. This is the Christ Candle. It is not lit during the four weeks of Advent, but rather on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, signifying the beginning of the Christmas season.
A Symbol of Purity and Light
The Christ Candle is white, a color that symbolizes purity, sinlessness, and light. Its placement in the center of the wreath signifies that Christ is the central, foundational figure of the Advent and Christmas seasons. He is the Light of the World who comes to dispel all darkness.
The lighting of this candle is the climax of the entire Advent journey. All four of the Advent candles have been building to this moment, symbolizing the prophecies and promises that are finally fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. When the Christ Candle is lit, the four outer candles often remain lit, but their light is now overshadowed by the brilliant light of the Christ Candle. This powerful visual demonstrates that while the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love are important, they all pale in comparison to the coming of Christ himself. He is the true source of all these things.
The Culmination of the Season
The lighting of the Christ Candle marks the end of the waiting and the beginning of the celebration. It is a moment of profound joy and gratitude, as we remember that God’s promised savior has arrived. This ritual ties the entire Advent season together, completing the narrative and bringing the focus back to where it always belonged: on Jesus Christ. For Methodists, it’s a beautiful way to mark the transition from a season of preparation to a season of profound worship and celebration, reminding us that Christ is the reason for the season, and the true light of the world.
A Practical Guide to the Methodist Advent Tradition
The beauty of the Advent wreath is not just in its symbolism, but in its ability to be a practical, engaging part of personal and family devotions. For Methodists, bringing the Advent wreath into the home is a way to make the theological journey of the season tangible and accessible for everyone, especially for children.
Setting Up Your Advent Wreath
Creating your own Advent wreath is a simple but meaningful process. You can purchase a pre-made one or make your own. A simple circular frame with fresh evergreen clippings from a pine or fir tree works perfectly. You’ll need three purple candles, one pink candle, and a single white candle for the center. If you want to use a more traditional setup, you can use four purple candles and a white one, or four purple and no white. The important thing is to be consistent and to remember the meanings. You can place the wreath on your dining room table, a coffee table, or any central location where your family can gather.
A Weekly Ritual: Lighting the Candles
The most important part of the tradition is the weekly lighting of the candles. Gather your family on each of the four Sundays of Advent. A good time to do this is during a meal or a designated devotional time.
Week 1 (Hope): On the first Sunday, light the first purple candle. You can say a short prayer, such as, “Lord, as we light this first candle, we remember the hope of your coming. We wait for you with great expectation. Amen.” You can also read a scripture passage related to hope, like Isaiah 9:2.
Week 2 (Peace): On the second Sunday, light the first two purple candles. You can say, “Lord, as we light these candles, we remember the peace that you bring. Help us to be peacemakers in our world. Amen.” A good scripture passage for this week is Luke 1:79.
Week 3 (Joy): On the third Sunday, light the two purple candles and the pink candle. This is a moment of celebration. A prayer could be, “Lord, as we light these three candles, we rejoice that your coming is near. Fill our hearts with the joy of your presence. Amen.” Scripture to read could include Luke 2:10-11.
Week 4 (Love): On the fourth Sunday, light all four outer candles—the three purple and the one pink. A prayer for this week could be, “Lord, as we light this fourth candle, we remember the great love you have for us. Help us to share your love with others. Amen.” A reading from John 3:16 is perfect for this moment.
Christmas Eve/Day: Finally, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, gather your family to light all four of the outer candles, and then, with great joy, light the central white Christ Candle. This is the culmination of the season. A simple prayer is, “Lord, the light of the world has come! We celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior. May your light shine in us and through us. Amen.”
The Legacy of Advent: A Season of Enduring Meaning
The Advent season and the tradition of the candles are more than just a quaint holiday custom. For Methodists, they represent a powerful, enduring spiritual discipline that prepares both the heart and the home for the greatest story ever told. In a world that often rushes headlong into the commercialism of Christmas, Advent provides a necessary counterpoint—a time to slow down, to wait, and to reflect.
Beyond the Candles: The Enduring Message
The enduring message of Advent is a call to be an active participant in God’s redemptive story. It’s a call to find hope in a world that can feel hopeless, to seek peace in the midst of turmoil, to experience joy even in our struggles, and to live a life rooted in God’s love. The candles are a visual reminder of these virtues, a steady flame that guides us through the darkness of winter and towards the brilliant light of Christmas. They teach us that waiting is not a passive activity but an active, hopeful expectation.
The Future of the Tradition
The Advent tradition continues to be a vital part of Methodist worship and family life. Its timeless themes resonate just as strongly today as they did in past centuries. As the world becomes more complex and chaotic, the simple, quiet ritual of lighting the Advent candles offers a moment of peace, a time to reconnect with the core story of our faith. It’s a legacy that Methodists will continue to pass down to future generations, ensuring that the true meaning of Christmas—the coming of Christ—is never lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. The Advent candles are a powerful testament to a faith that looks both to the past, with gratitude, and to the future, with unwavering hope.
