Hope, prepare, rejoice and behold

Four Sundays before Christmas, the season of Advent begins. We decorate the Advent wreath with fresh evergreen boughs and place four, blue candles around the circle. Each Sunday we light a new candle—beginning with the candle of Hope. Prepare, Rejoice and Behold follow on succeeding Sundays; Christmas Eve we light the white candle in the center to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Advent provides the opportunity for us to reflect on the meaning of Christmas and spend time away from the pressures of the secular holiday. Our candles have names that are verbs—action words—that provide a theme...