Advent is a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the nativity of Jesus. The name derives from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming." Marked over the course of the four Sundays before Christmas, Advent is traditionally celebrated with an advent wreath: a ring of evergreen with three purple candles and one pink one (or four purple candles) that represent: Hope, Love, Joy (pink) and Peace.
(In Eastern Orthodox churches, which use the Julian calendar, Advent begins earlier and lasts 40 days rather than four weeks.)
Faith Without Borders
For everything there is a season—a time to die and a time to be born. With the arrival of winter’s low dark sky, communities around the world look to the miracle of light as a sign of rebirth and a source of hope. We celebrate the promise of new life and recommit ourselves to the protection of everyone’s right to his or her own radiant humanity.
Celebrating the winter holidays, thus, is an excellent opportunity for Unitarian Universalist congregations to express their commitment to our Sixth Principle: We covenant to affirm and promote the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all. See Sixth Principle Resources for winter holidays.
Unitarian Universalist Perspectives
Toggle to filter resultsAvailable filters:
Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately. Searching by keyword or changing the number of items per page requires use of the "Search" button.
- Balance (1)
- Beginnings (2)
- Brokenness (2)
- Challenge (1)
- Choice (1)
- Commitment (1)
- Connections (1)
- Courage (1)
- Despair (1)
- Ending (2)
- Faith (4)
- Family (2)
- God (2)
- Grief (1)
- Healing (1)
- Hope (4)
- Joy (2)
- Letting Go (2)
- Love (2)
- Pain (1)
- Patience (4)
- Peace (2)
- Sadness (1)
- Self-Care (1)
- Spirituality (3)
- Tradition (3)
- Transcendence (1)
- Wholeness (1)
- (-) Spiritual Practice (10)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10
-
The circle of evergreens reminds us that life and love will never end.Ritual | By Rosemary Morrison | January 26, 2023 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christianity, Hope, Joy, Love, Peace, Spiritual Practice
-
Minister: At this time, we would like to introduce a special ritual. The holidays can be an especially poignant time of year. Alongside the joy in these present moments, we may recall fond memories of past celebrations with our loved ones....Ritual | By Shari Woodbury | May 5, 2020 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Connections, Direct Experience, Family, Grief, Spiritual Practice
-
We lean in expectation into all that is being born in us at this Holy time of the year...Ritual | By Erika Hewitt | December 2, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Brokenness, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Faith, Spiritual Practice, Tradition, Transcendence, Wholeness
-
May love guide us and be a creating force in our lives.Ritual | By Erika Hewitt | December 2, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christianity, Faith, Love, Patience, Spiritual Practice, Tradition
-
During Advent, we listen and keep vigil for the promise of things to come.Ritual | By Erika Hewitt | December 2, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Christianity, Despair, Faith, Hope, Joy, Spiritual Practice, Tradition
-
May this time of waiting inspire our courage.Ritual | By Erika Hewitt | December 2, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Buddhism, Christianity, Patience, Peace, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality
-
An adequate Christmas would have you calm and open, taking it in, accepting whatever is. Slow it all down like you might be, in some way, attuned to the pace of the Eternal. If you need, you can fake it at first.Reflection | By Jake Morrill | November 29, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Advent, Balance, Challenge, Choice, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Courage, Direct Experience, Family, God, Self-Care, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality, Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice / Yule
-
Week by week, the candles remind us that fear and hopelessness recede as more warmth enters the world.Ritual | By Erika Hewitt | November 26, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Beginnings, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Ending, Faith, Hope, Letting Go, Patience, Spiritual Practice
-
This is the season of endings and beginnings.Opening | By Erika Hewitt | November 26, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Advent, Beginnings, Ending, Letting Go, New Year, Patience, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality
-
December 7, 2016 “Use loneliness. Its ache creates urgency to reconnect with the world.” — Natalie Goldberg I know a little about "merry" meeting "mess" at the holidays — and by a little I mean How much time have you got? Four Christmases ago, a painful break-up sent me spinning into a long...Reflection | By Erika Hewitt | December 7, 2016 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Advent, Brokenness, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Commitment, God, Healing, Hope, Pain, Sadness, Spiritual Practice