Carole Mitchell, Greene Publishing, Inc.
Pastor Oliver Bradley and the New Generation Baptist Church and Joe Rowe and The Morning Star Missionary Baptist churches recently united to present the Seasons of Advent to both congregations and the Madison County community.
The Season of Advent, as explained by Bradley, celebrates the birth and the Second Coming of Christ. Advent describes the act of watching and waiting for the return of Christ.
The holiday season month of December is traditionally the month for Advent celebrations. During this ceremony, parishioners were treated with songs of praise designed to inspire and uplift with the awareness that Jesus is with us. Each of the four Sundays this month was represented by a colored candle. Hope, peace, love and joy were the themes associated with each candle.
A purple candle representing hope was lit on the first Sunday. On the second Sunday, a purple candle was used again to illustrate thanksgiving and the celebration for the Prince of Peace as well as the promise of peace and goodwill. On the third Sunday, a pink candle was lit representing joy. Joy is the emotion felt by the Shepherds when they were told of the birth of the baby in the manger. The fourth Sunday’s purple candle, reminds us to celebrate God’s boundless love for all of us.
Lighting a white candle and placing it in the center of a wreath on the final day of the Advent celebration represents Jesus and his coming to receive us. The white candle symbolizes the purity of Christ’s sinless life as well as the salvation he offers to those he came to seek and save. Jesus’ purpose for coming was to seek and save the lost.
For the final day of Advent, the NGBC and MSMBC united for one service with both congregations. This service was held on Wednesday, Dec. 21 instead of Sunday to allow parishioners to celebrate and spend the Christmas Day holiday at home with their families.
Children participated in the final day of Advent with speeches and recitations. Lisa Rowe coordinated the youth ministry program that included a presentation of the “true meaning of the history of the candy cane” as it relates to Christmas. Songs of joy for Christmas were performed. During the candlelight service, each member carried a candle, sang Christmas carols and marched around the sanctuary. This was in reverence to watching and waiting for Christ’s return.
The program concluded with the children leading the congregation in singing the “12 Days of Christmas.”
“Best wishes to Madison County residents with the hope of us growing closer together as a community as we grow closer to Christ,” shared Bradley.