November has quickly become December, and that means the season of Advent is upon us.   Advent is a quirky season because we wait once again for the coming of the Christ Child which we know has already come.  And it’s also the season where we wait in expectation for Jesus to come once again. 

As a child I always loved Advent—a season where we would once again sing that beautiful hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”   I couldn’t wait to sing the classic Christmas carols, but I knew that they would be all the better for having waited.

But today, we’ve been hearing those Christmas songs since the day after Halloween.  In the real world we skip Advent and jump right into Christmas.  But are we the better for it?  In a world that has deliberately taken the Christ out of Christmas, we need Advent more than ever.  We need to take the time to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child, Jesus.  Although we long to celebrate Christmas, how can we joyously participate in that season when we haven’t stopped to get ready for such a unique event—God bending down to earth, to live among us!  Like any birth, there are many things to do to be ready.  For this birth, we need time to be quiet with God and to ponder the depths of our souls so that we can be open to the wonder of wonders of God’s love for us.

Of course, we have much planned for this month—4 wonderful Sundays of Advent (December 3, 10, 17, & 24); the Children’s Christmas Service on December 17^th during Sunday worship; the Blue Christmas Service, December 21^st at 7:00 p.m., a service for those who have suffered loss of all kinds; and of course, the Christmas Eve Service with Carols and Candlelighting, 7:00 p.m., on the 24^th.

But don’t rush…take your time to prepare for Christmas.  Think of Advent as an early Christmas present, one to be savored! 

Much love and blessings in this holy season,

Rev. Michelle M. Sabin

Pastor, North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church