From the Pastor

December 2007

Unlike in Germany, where Advent is greeted and marked publicly in town squares and privately in family homes, Advent is not so well observed in Canada.  Most people don’t know what Advent is.  Ask someone on the street to explain the season of Advent and they’re likely to tell you that they can’t stop and chat right now, they’ve got too much to do to prepare for Christmas!

And there’s the irony.  On the one hand Canadians do observe Advent.  In the weeks before Christmas we rush about doing our Christmas shopping, setting up our Christmas trees, putting up our Christmas lights, going to our Christmas parties and writing our Christmas cards.  Getting ready for December 25 can be a very busy and stressful time.  It’s how many of us observe Advent.

On the other hand, most Canadians don’t observe Advent at all, because Advent isn’t so much about preparing for December 25 as it is about waiting and watching for the incarnation of God in our world – an incarnation we mark by tradition on December 25 as the birth of Jesus of Nazareth but which may actually manifest itself in any number of unexpected ways in our lives at any time of year.

The season of Advent is meant to teach us how to wait and to watch quietly and patiently for the fullness of the reign of God.  The lighting of candles marks the passage of time while Advent wreaths remind us that what we wait and watch for is timeless and eternal – it has no beginning and no ending.

Christmas is a big deal in our lives today and deserves our careful preparations.  However, the cost of Christmas can be too much – too much stress, too much credit card debt, too many commitments on our time.  An intentional marking of Advent can counter some of that ‘Christmas excess’ in our live, and takes very little time and almost no expense.

Try this Advent observance in your home.  Cut small pieces of pine, cedar or spruce from a nearby evergreen tree.  Place these in a circle on a table in your home.   (As the greenery dries out, it may need to be replaced occasionally.)  Around this circle, evenly space four blue candles.  On Sunday, December 2nd and continuing every evening of the week, take five minutes to light one of the candles.  Sit in silence.  Watch the light.  Pray, if words come to mind.  Then, beginning December 09, light two of the candles each evening.  Light three beginning December 16, and on the 23rd light all four.

For five minutes each day, do nothing but watch and wait.

May you have space for Advent in your lives this year.

Peace,
Pastor Brian