Advent is purple.
I love Advent. I love the intention of a time of waiting, of preparing, of working against the consumerist tide to carve out times of stillness and preparation. I am not very good at Advent, but I enjoy the challenge of Advent.
I also love the way the church does Advent. Flowers are removed and the Advent wreath arrives. We use purple vestments, we use liturgy that talks about darkness, light, judgement, death, waiting, watching. The hymns are magnificent.
In 2012 just before Advent, the General Synod voted against women being made Bishops. It pained me so much. In frustration and in a tiny act of protest I dyed my hair purple. Purple for Advent. Purple for Bishops. Purple for King Jesus. Purple for lament. There was waiting to be done, the vote finally passed in 2014. But since then, in an act of remembrance and in a continued tiny act of protest against persecution in all its many forms, I continue to die my hair purple in Advent.
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
– Isaiah 61:1
– Jo Neary, Team Vicar