We began our Advent season last Sunday, and now, together as a faith community, we spend our time preparing for the birth of our Lord. In this Advent season of preparation, I invite you to take the time to examine the relationships in your life. As we make our way to the stable, our lives will get busier and busier, what with shopping for presents, and attending Christmas parties. The malls will be packed and traffic will become unbearable. Before we know it we will be caught up in all the craziness and forget what it is that we are preparing for, which is the birth of Christ.If you are like me, when you get busy you have the tendency to forget the ones around you. We may be shopping for them, but we forget to slow down and listen to them. Remember what it is we are preparing for. Take the time to be with your loved ones in the craziness of Christmas. Just as Jesus was born into a family, so are we, and we are called to remember how blessed we are to have our families. I invite you also to reflect how blessed we are by having this faith community. What greater gift can one have than to have the community of Saint Andrew’s? In this Advent season, it is my hope and prayer that we can actually slow down instead of going crazy, and realize how blessed we are to have each other.

A wonderful way to do just that is by attending the Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols, followed by the Greening of the Church, on Sunday, Dec. 19 at 3:30 p.m.. I cannot think of a better way to make sure we are gro unded and are preparing for the Christ Child.

The season of Advent calls us to prepare for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. That birth, which began our community, draws us together as the people of God. Each of us makes our way to the stable to participate and give thanks for the joy of Christmas. I invite you to journey with me through this Advent season, and to prepare together, so that when Christmas comes we may know fully how blessed we are. There will be two services on Christmas Eve; a family Eucharist with the Christmas Pageant at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and a Holy Eucharist at 10 p.m. with the choir. (Come at 9:30, if you like, for an old-fashioned carol sing-along before the service.)

Melissa and I wish you a blessed Christmas, and hope you will join with us as we all give thanks for the grace that is ours in the Christ Child.

Saint Andrew’s Net | December 2004 | Vol. XVIV No. 9 | Page 1