REFLECTION, REMEMBRANCE: ADVENT WREATHS OFFER TIME FOR QUIET MEDITATION IN MIDST OF THE HOLIDAY RUSH

Advent is a time of prayer and reflection, and an advent wreath can be used to focus on the season."An Advent wreath is an excellent way for families to keep the real meaning of Christmas in perspective," said Ellen Shuck, director of religious education at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau.

An Advent wreath is a circle of greenery in which is placed four candles. Beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which this year was Nov. 28, the first candle is lit. On the next Sunday that candle is relit and a second candle is lit. This continues until on the Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are burning. The candles may be lit during church services, but the Advent wreath is more often used as the focus of a family observance. Everything about the Advent wreath is symbolic. The candles represent the thousands of years people of God awaited the promised Messiah, Shuck said. "As you light the candles, you reflect on the light Christ brought into the world," she said.

The round wreath represents the eternity of God and the Father's presence throughout history, and the greenery symbolizes the eternal life of God and Christ, Shuck said.

In the Catholic tradition, the candles are purple as a reminder that Advent is a time of penance and prayer, Shuck said.

In Protestant denominations, the candles may be blue or red, said the Rev. Hugh Stewart, interim pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

While the Catholic Church has celebrated the season with Advent wreaths for centuries, it's only been in the last 20 years or so that the tradition has become widespread among Protestant congregations, Stewart said.

Stewart said he thinks that may coincide with the increasing secularization of Christmas."People like the idea of taking some quiet time in the midst of all the Christmas activities to reflect on the season," Stewart said.

First Presbyterian encourages families in the congregation to participate in tradition, using the candle lighting as a way to rediscover a family devotion time, Stewart said. The church offers booklets with suggestions on scripture readings, meditations and carols that can be used at each week's candle lighting.

Shuck said many Catholic families make Advent wreaths part of family prayer service. "They do scripture readings as they light the candles," she said. "And they may offer petitions, asking for things they want, or thanks for what they have."Advent is a time to think about what Christ's coming means, Stewart said, and the symbolism of the wreath helps people do that."The candles help people realize the light of the Lord has dawned and we are in darkness no longer," Shuck said.