The Advent Wreath The Advent Wreath in St. John’s has three purple candles, reflecting the liturgical colour for Advent, with a pink candle for the Third Sunday, when rose-pink vestments are traditionally worn. The first candle is lit on Advent Sunday; additional ones are lit, one on each Sunday, and the white or gold one on Christmas Day. The new candle each week may appropriately be lit at the beginning of the Eucharist or during the Prayers of Penitence. In this case the material entitled ‘Prayers of Penitence at the Advent Wreath’ is used. Alternatively, the candles may be lit after the Gospel Reading, before the Peace, or after Communion, where the prayer(s) used at the lighting becomes a natural Post-Communion prayer. At St John’s we light our Candles at the beginning of the Eucharist. All five candles may appropriately be alight during services throughout the Christmas season. There are several traditions about the meaning or theme of each candle. The scheme that accords best with the Common Worship Principal Service Lectionary is: Advent 1 The Patriarchs: Hope (Purple) Advent 2 The Prophets: Faith (Purple) Advent 3 John the Baptist Joy (Rose) Advent 4 The Virgin Mary Love (Purple) Christmas Day: The Christ Light (White) Each of the four Sundays then reminds us of those who prepared for the coming of Christ. ‘The Patriarchs’ can naturally focus on Abraham, our father in faith, and David, the ancestor in whose city Jesus was born. ‘The Prophets’ gives an opportunity to reflect on the way the birth of the Messiah was ‘foretold’. John, who proclaimed the Saviour, and Mary, who bore him in her womb, complete the picture.