This year’s Advent wreath, confected with local greenery: holly, variegated and traditional, and pine branches, is a joy to behold. While so much of nature lies dormant, these cheerful evergreens are a powerful reminder of God’s abiding presence.
The single candle for the first week of Advent is a kind of preview of the Paschal candle which will be in this place in the abbey church in a few months: every liturgical season springs from Easter, and even the Advent chants end with ‘alleluia’. The light of Christ the Light lightens our darkness even as we journey towards celebrating his birth.
The Advent chants at Vespers are particularly beautiful. Why not join us? 6pm each evening.