Dear Restoration Family,
One of Restoration’s core values is Contemplation. We love how the annual rhythm of Advent naturally creates space to be confronted by the mystery of God's presence. During this season, we consider God’s faithfulness and wait for his return; we lament the world’s brokenness and anticipate the promised arrival of Christ the King. This year, there will be a few liturgical shifts to mark the season of Advent.
I. Advent Wreath
The Sanctuary is adorned with the royal color purple. You’ll notice the Advent Wreath on the chancel. Each week, another of its candles will be lit as we approach Christmas and celebrate the arrival of the light of Christ.
II. Penitential Arrangement
The Confession will take its traditional spot toward the beginning of the liturgy to emphasize the penitential nature of this season. Only by God’s forgiveness and grace may we enter into his presence.
We will follow the Prayer Book’s recommendation to read the Exhortation on the first Sunday in Advent (BCP, p147). It is a solemn, beautiful reminder of the seriousness of sin and the even greater abundance of God’s grace.
III. Anglican Standard Eucharistic Liturgy
The 2019 Book of Common Prayer provides churches with two options for the Liturgy of the Table. We typically pray the Renewed Ancient Text, which draws from liturgies of the early church. But for Advent, we will temporarily shift to praying the Anglican Standard Text, which is essentially a contemporary English version of the Holy Communion liturgy from the 1662 BCP (BCP, p115).
There’s not necessarily anything Advent-ish about this liturgy; may it simply be a way for us to mark the season. You’ll hear its reformational emphasis on God’s initiative, the totality of Christ’s sacrifice (ie. “oblation”), and our Spirit-empowered response. After Advent, we’ll return to the familiar Renewed Ancient.
May you be blessed by the quiet presence of God during this sacred season!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Rick
