The Advent Wreath

We have survived Black Friday and Cyber-Monday!  What’s next?  Retailers have been pushing the spirit of Christmas since Halloween, and radio stations can now legitimately play Christmas songs.  Our newspapers are thick with advertisements for all those things we need to buy.  The Hallmark Channel has its countdown of holiday-themed shows where everyone finds true love, and Santa always has a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

It appears to me that we need some focus.  We need to be able to take a breath and cut through all the “stuff” that is not Christmas.  Believe me, I’m not against gifts and shopping, nor am I against the Hallmark channel.  To be honest, there’s nothing more relaxing that watching some of the Hallmark countdown to Christmas movies!

Amidst all of that, though, I need to be reminded of the essence of Christmas and how to live out the season of Advent to its fullest.  I renew this feeling every year.  It’s almost like making a New Year’s resolution—and where does that get me?!  I am going to attempt something different this Advent season.  I am going to give myself a focus or a visual cue.  It is going to be the Advent Wreath.  That will serve as my very own “countdown to Christmas.”

Advertisement

In Praise of Stewards

Over the weekend our parish held a Stewardship Fair.  Many parishes do that, and no doubt you are familiar with the process.  Tables or booths are set up representing each ministry in the church.  Representatives of these ministries are present to discuss their ministry and, hopefully, recruit new ministers for the cause. 

Let Go and. . .

I have a confession to make.  I have to be honest about something.  There is a certain saying that I avoid—or at least gulp before saying it.  I get a lump in my throat and a pause in my thinking.  It is this one:  “let go and let God.”  Sometimes, when I am in our Parish Gift Shop, I even circumvent the area where I know there are little knick knacks bearing this slogan.