SFPF: Lenten Candle Wreath

Lenten Candle Wreath

Many Presbyterians are familiar with the lighting of an Advent wreath in December to mark the weeks that are passing as they journey to the holy night when Christ was born. Week by week, a candle is lit, symbolizing hope, peace, joy and love. The increasing brightness of light from the candles speaks of the promise that the darkness wherein the people have walked will give way to the divine light coming into the world. It’s a joyous time to light those candles, and those who incorporate this practice into the Advent season find it an enriching spiritual moment.

Now, rather than lighting a candle weekly, the Lenten “wreath” extinguishes a candle weekly. The dimming of light during the season of Lent reminds people that this 40-day journey is leading to the cross of Good Friday.

For Sneads Ferry Presbyterian congregation, a wooden base to hold the Lenten candles was crafted by church member and retired PC(USA) pastor, Joe Dorociak. The dimensions of the candle base equal 33 inches — 33 reflecting Jesus’ lifespan. Six purple candles, purple being the penitent color for Lent, are placed on the base. The seventh candle is white and represents Christ’s holiness.

On the first Sunday of Lent, all seven candles are lit. As each week of Lent passes, one candle is extinguished. Unlike Advent, where a new candle is lit each week and the light slowly gets brighter, during Lent, each week gets progressively darker until there is complete darkness on Good Friday. Only the Christ candle remains lit.

The Christ Candle is not extinguished but removed from the sanctuary at the conclusion of our Maundy Thursday worship service. The Christ Candle mysteriously returns Easter morning.

Ash Wednesday Blessing

The entire month of March will be immersed in the season of Lent. So, I share some prayers for Lent.¹ Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.

Prayer for Lent

“The Old Sod!”

The precious land!

The sacred earth!

Ash Wednesday’s smudge

Remember we are earth

And we shall return.

Jesus is of earth

Every bone and sinew

The Word enfleshed.

His beginning sacred

A holy earth birthing

A heavenly ending.

Our Lenten journey

Wednesday’s blest earth

To Easter’s blest water!

And we are more than

“Dust in the wind.”

We are bound for glory!

O God, bless my Lenten journey.

Let me walk the blessing path of Jesus.

Blessed be the path of giving.

Blessed be the path of discipling.

Blessed be the garden of grieving.

Blessed be the mountain of the cross.

Blessed be these forty days.

May I be more loving, more generous,

More forgiving, more grateful,

As I trod the desert path

Leading to Easter’s water —

A fountain springing up

Toward eternal life!

May you follow and encounter Christ in all the mystery of His love during this Lenten season! Thanks be to Jesus, we are bound for glory! Though the path is long and arduous, it is also sprinkled with faith, hope and love! Remember, we cannot get to Easter without going through Holy Week and Good Friday.

Dr. Fitzgerald

¹ William John Fitzgerald, A Contemporary Celtic Prayer Book (Skokie, IL, ACTA Publications, 1998), pp. 127–128.