Advent - a spiritual respite

  It makes sense for the retail and entertainment industries to begin the Christmas season as early as possible, which is why pre-season sales, cheerful “holiday”music and sentimental Christmas television programs made their debut this year a few days before Halloween. One possible effect of this lengthened season is a sense of Christmas weariness. Over saturated by the “all-things-Christmas” theme of these days, one can easily grow tired of Christmas before it even arrives. Ironically, one of the best ways to escape this Christmas hubbub, other than vacationing in an Islamic country, is to participate in the Advent or pre-Christmas worship services of a Christian congregation like ours. Yes, there are signs of Christmas in this setting as well -- special projects, missions, and rehearsals, things which must be
accomplished before December 25. But the tone of our liturgies, the themes of our worship, and the topics of our sermons are intentionally “not yet Christmas”. The season of Advent is for us a spiritual respite – a time of reflection, repentance, preparation and longing in a world easily wearied of Christmas.