ON my travels around the area these past few weeks, I have seen the first Christmas decorations and by the time you read this, we shall have just begun the season of Advent.

Advent is a four-week season with an emphasis on preparation as we wait for Christmas.

When I was a child, I loved opening the little windows on my Advent calendar, but I learned a little bit about patience as I struggled to wait to open the larger window on Christmas Eve. Waiting and patience don't come naturally to a three-or four-year-old!

Waiting can give us the opportunity to see and hear and feel things we’re often too busy to notice.

And while we wait, we may see other waiting people, pensioners, parents, teenagers, young children, and notice the look in their eyes, the joy, the pain, the hope, the despair; we may see beautiful things, ugly things; we may hear a kind word, a cruel word, a baby’s cry, a shout of rage, a snatch of music…

Such experiences are all part of the Advent journey, which reflects life's journey too.

Although it is inevitable that we will all be caught up to some extent in the frenetic activity of the season, we will find it all much more rewarding if we are able to spare at least a little time to pause, reflect, and enjoy the journey.

It is so easy to rush through Advent without making the most of this opportunity to prepare ourselves for Christmas.

If you visit Crediton Parish Church, perhaps for the Christmas Tree Festival, you'll see that, in common with many other churches, we have an Advent wreath.

Rather than being just another decoration, the Advent wreath is packed with symbolism and I am often asked what it signifies.

The Advent wreath symbolises the passage of the four weeks of Advent. It is a horizontal wreath with greenery and five candles.

Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, the lighting of each candle is often accompanied by a prayer.

An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. The fifth, “Christ”, candle is lit on Christmas Eve.

There are various interpretations of the symbolism of the Advent wreath.

The accumulation of light is an expression of the growing anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the light of the world. The circular wreath represents God's eternity and unity.

There is a growing tradition that each of the four Sundays of Advent reminds us of those who prepared for the coming of Christ, but it is equally as helpful to think of the candles symbolizing hope, peace, joy and love.

So, each flame, as it burns brightly and lightens the darkness reminds us to embrace hope, peace, joy and love.

“Waiting in hope” is the signature tune of Advent and the tune we're invited to sing in our hearts.

The Rev Preb Matthew Tregenza

Rector of Holy Cross, Crediton