The ASC Web site will be featuring images of photographs and art work from a number of our parishioners in an online 2010 Advent Calendar. Visit daily during Advent and Christmas to see what image the new day reveals.
A special thank you to Elizabeth Danieli for organizing the Advent Calendar Banner and to Connie Pawelczak for her sewing skills and time! Thank you as well to the many folks who created calendar squares! The result is the beautiful banner you see in our sanctuary to the left of the lectern.
You may be wondering about the meaning of the symbols and the colors used. The creators of the banner drew from traditional symbols from our Christian tradition and from images dear to All Saints’. Below, you'll find a little guidance as you appreciate this work of art.
The image to the right is cropped to highlight the day panels. A more complete image that shows the entire banner is available.
Most of the calendar squares are on purple, a tradition color for Advent and Lent, signifying a penitential season. Date Calendar Square Description First Week of Advent Nov 29 Wreath with one lit candle for the First Sunday of Advent Nov 30 Donkey, which carried Mary to Bethlehem and is a créche figure Dec 1 Bells, call us to come to worship and to wake up Dec 2 Burning Bush, Moses’ encounter with God in Genesis Dec 3 Christmas Tree, undecorated, part of preparing for Christmas Dec 4 Peace Dove, yearning for Jesus, the Prince of Peace Dec 5 Habitat for Humanity Gingerbread Man, All Saints’ Gingerbread village Second Week of Advent Dec 6 Wreath with two lit candles for the Second Sunday of Advent Dec 7 Anchor and bags of money for St. Nicholas Day (moved from Dec 6) Dec 8 Cow, traditional créche figure & favorite of the Associate at All Saints' Dec 9 Holy men and women of the Old Testament who awaited the coming Messiah Dec 10 Music, an important part of the identity of All Saints' Dec 11 Candy canes, shaped like shepherd’s staffs for Jesus as the Great Shepherd Dec 12 St. Lucy (moved from Dec 13), an Advent saint reminding us of the coming light Third Week of Advent Dec 13 Wreath with three lit candles for the Third Sunday of Advent. Gaudete Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent. We use the color rose to turn from the penitential theme to rejoicing as we await the coming of Jesus, our savior. Dec 14 Pets, beloved members of our families and representing the animals in the stable Dec 15 Choir, symbol of All Saints’ annual Lessons and Carols service Dec 16 Stockings, preparation for Christmas in our homes Dec 17‑23 The Great 'O' Antiphons of Advent, short focused prayers invoking Old Testament messianic titles and calling for the coming of Christ, on squares of light blue (the Advent color from the Sarum tradition, often used by Anglican churches). These tradition verses are the basis of "O come, o come, Emmanuel" (Hymnal 56). Our calendar leaves out ‘O Adonai’ on December 18 and shifts 'O Root of Jesse' and 'O Key of David' to make room for Fourth Advent. Dec 17 O Wisdom Dec 18 O Root of Jesse Dec 19 O Key of David Fourth Week of Advent Dec 20 Wreath with four lit candles for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Dec 21 O Dayspring (blazing light) and ruler for St Thomas Dec 22 O King of All Dec 23 O Emmanuel Dec 24 The Star which led the Magi Merry Christmas! Dec 25 Jesus, King of Kings
For more information please contact the Associate for Adult Christian Formation, Amy Hunter.
