First Sunday in Advent

Today is the First Sunday in Advent. I love the Advent Season and all that comes with it. We decorated our church last night and today lit the first Advent candle in the wreath, and sang glorious Christmas music. It was the beginning of a special season. I hope to be able to enjoy what Advent is all about, rather than being frantic and so busy that I can't take time for what I want to celebrate (For more on Advent, read all the way through this post.).

Today is also the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge, and I was so pleased for my friend, Dawn {flowergal36}, who was chosen this week. I used a new December 1st release set from Our Daily Bread Designs, "I Wait for the Lord", for my card today! It has a beautiful Advent wreath, as well as several sentiments and verses. See the whole set tomorrow HERE. Kelley (the owner of ODBD) is offering free shipping through today, and also a chance for some blog candy HERE.


The Featured Stamper Challenge requires that at least two things are changed on the card of the chosen stamper. You can see the card of Dawn's that I chose to case ("copy and steal everything") HERE. I kept her quilt idea and layout, and changed the stamp images, as well as the background paper and ribbon placement. I also added some sewing with my Janome!

Thanks for coming to my blog today! If you would like to read more about the Advent Season, and the Advent Wreath, keep reading! Otherwise I hope to see you back tomorrow for a glitzy House Mouse Challenge!

Celebrating Advent

Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us to prepare for the coming, or "advent" of the Christ child at Christmas. (The word "advent" comes from the Latin word that means "coming.")

For hundreds of years Christians have used an Advent wreath to inspire their hopes for the coming of Christ. By lighting candles and reading Bible verses, we are reminded about the meaning of Christ's birth and become more excited about his coming in the past, in the future, and in our own lives.

There is no set meaning for the candles of the Advent wreath (except for the middle candle, which always signifies the birth of Jesus the Christ). Some wreaths use all white candles; others use three purple candles, one pink candle, and one white candle in the middle. The purple candles remind us of how serious and solemn God's people have been in waiting for the Messiah. The pink signifies the joy of our waiting. The white is triumphant and celebrative because Christ is born.

Today we sang Joy to the World, Immanuel (by Stuart Townend - a fabulous contemporary Advent hymn), Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus and Infant Holy, Infant Lowly. Now I have Christmas music playing (Jim Brickman) and am ready to start decorating the house!

Enjoy your week!