Advent Friday Five

From Songbird of revgalblogpals:

Here are five questions about Advent for this first of December:

1) Do you observe Advent in your church? Yes indeed, wreath, candles, liturgy and hymns.

2) How about at home? Yup --we just "observe" Advent by watching it pass by way too quickly because we're so busy. Most years, we're doing good just to decorate for Christmas. But I understand the season's theme of longing very well, since I long for Winter Solstice as well as for Jesus, because the days begin lengthening after Dec 21 and my seasonal affective disorder starts improving almost immediately.

3) Do you have a favorite Advent text or hymn? I love the John Ness Beck anthem, "Every Valley", based upon the Isaiah text --"and every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain laid low, and the crooked made straight, and the rough places made plain, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of our God has spoken it..."

4) Why is one of the candles in the Advent wreath pink? (You may tell the truth, but I'll like your answer better if it's funny.) We in the GLBT community often take special delight or ownership in the pink or rose candle --we think it's God's little joke shared with us, a kind of Divine Wink that we really do belong in the church, although not everyone is "in" on the joke. It really is the "joy" candle for many of us.

5) What's the funniest/kitschiest Advent calendar you've ever seen?Let us know in the comments if you play. I've never seen a truly funny one, but I can think of a few I could design. "21 Days At The Mall: Lord Jesus, Come Soon --And Get Me Out of Here!" That one should go over well with our retail workers, God bless 'em.