Advent, from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming,” is considered to be the beginning of the Church Year. A new season of the church brings with it a change of liturgical color. The long green season after Pentecost gives way to either purple for repentance, introspection, and renewal, or blue for The Virgin Mary, hope, and anticipation. Rose or pink is also an option for the third Sunday in Advent, known as Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday.
“See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.” ~ Isaiah 42:9
Collect for the First Sunday of Advent (traditional):
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.