Loading...From our Vicar –
The diocese recently held a retreat for clergy who have moved to new churches/positions. We got together to learn, formally and informally. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of the other clergy. I learned many useful lessons, most often while laughing to the point of tears.
During our discussions, one of the priests told us about an insight they’d come across recently: Christmas has not been commercialized.
Naturally, we all balked at that. But they were right. Advent has been commercialized, not Christmas. When the secular world’s celebrations are over, the Christmas season is just beginning.
We often bemoan and bewail the loss of the true meaning of Christmas. It has been buried under the detritus of our rampaging consumerism; we cry. We’re not wrong.
Except we mean Advent, not Christmas.
So how do we communicate the meaning – in fact, the existence of – the Christmas season?
Keep your eyes open during Advent. (That’s pretty much the message of Advent, isn’t it?) Look, watch, and listen for ways to communicate the joy of the Christmas season to your community. And maybe our vigilance and expectations of the season of Christmas will keep our Advent season centered on the spiritual as well
Peace, Rev. Racel
