I was just in conversation with my American correspondent in the Diocese of Argyll about Liturgical Matters. It transpires that there is schism between us. It is my belief that the candles on an Advent Wreath should be red, with the possible addition of a white one in the middle at Midnight Mass. It is her belief that candles should be either all purple or three purple ones and a pink one.
My contention is that this purple and pink business is something which came to us from our colonial brethren not that many decades ago and that it is, like George Bush, something of which they should repent. My correspondent replied with the assertion that red candles on an Advent Wreath could never be, because “…red candles are common”.
This seems to confirm my view that although she may not be personally responsible for changing our candles from red to purple/pink, her co-countrypersons were. Anyone beg to differ?
If we could resolve differences such as this, we might be able to move to some kind of companion link with the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles one day, which would be quite exciting. We could go there for visits and exchanges, and maybe even share communion.
We’ve got four purple ones…..
I will concede that pink berries might be camp. Though that is nothing compared to our lovely twigs of umbrella pine.
On that designation, I up the stakes and claim that purple candles and pink berries are a visible sign of our commitment to an open and inclusive Anglican Communion.
Red candles, alternately, proclaim Traditional Family Values and speak of boisterous women wearing Christmas tree sweaters and Santa clause pins.
(Ah, now that’s an interesting though. Maybe the need for purple candles for Advent really does come from the States — a way of controlling what would otherwise happen if lots of Santa clad women were let loose with red, green and gold.)
There is no wonder the communion is in the trouble it is.
I’m not convinced that the purple/pink candle option is necessarily the inclusive option.
I think that you will find that I never criticised the pink berries. Far be it for me…
On the subject of candles, I suggest that we all unite in our diversity and light our candles this evening, pink, blue, purple, white, red or gold or what have you for the Diocese of Aberdeen which meets to elect a new Bishop tomorrow.
Well, we’ve got three purple, a pink – and a white for the big day! We ordered an Advent Candle Set from Hayes and Finch, and that’s what we got! Actually (and I feel slightly ashamed to admit this), they’re last year’s. There was plenty of ‘wear’ left in them, so we thought we’d just use them again. In my last charge they had red candles and sang a rather pathetic song as each was lit – a new verse being added each Sunday! Maybe next year we’ll have red candles here – a bit of variety never did anyone any harm! But definitely not the song!
Hayes and Finch bear a great and unfortunate responsibility in all this.
As do Farris… it’s virtually impossible to get a purple set without a pink candle in.
We make our own (all purple ones)!
…and have any idea how traumatic it was to get all red candles when in previous years we donated to other uses the red candle that came in the H+F box with the 3 purple / 1 pink / 1 white.
Maybe DofG+G should go in with DofA+I and make our own for the two dioceses next year.
I’m loathe to intervene in this important debate, as I don’t want to see anyone oppressed by my limited and somewhat simplistic understanding of the matter. However the following might help (or not):
Advent wreaths and candles are a comparatively recent (16th C) innovation, though of course they have pagan antecedents.
Unlike many other things, neither are commended nor rejected in biblical terms. So they can safely be deemed adiaphora.
If they are adiaphora, is God really that bothered with what colour they are?
I worry about all this liturgical fundamentalism which is so prevalent in the Communion these days. How it must detract from the real mission of the church?
For the record – our candles are all white. Hey, that’s diversity for you.
Yes, Gadgetvicar, but do you not worry about churches using pink candles when the word “pink” never occurs in holy scripture at all? Such a departure from the biblical precepts matters a huge amount.
One of the problems that still worries me about the adiaphora concept is that there is a danger that someone might presume that that which was approved of by the biblical witnesses need necessarily be approved of now.
Then there are the things which some would now claim to be present in scripture but which almost certainly were not believed by the characters at the time.
What we need in all of this is to covenant together not to use candles which are offensive to our brothers and sisters or which might damage the mission of the wider church. Perhaps we should draw together a group to draft the rules. (Need to ensure that all candle colours are represented at the drafting meetings).
Wonder where Tom Wright stands on all this.
Love it!