Advent; the Anticipation of Christmas 
This is an important time in the Church year as we prepare for Christmas.
No, it does not mean running out grabbing a tree and sticking a bunch of decorations in your yard and your home right away.
What it does mean is that we have a few weeks to spend some time with God, preparing our hearts and our minds for this great gift of Christmas that will be arriving on December 25.
It is a time to study and reflect upon the readings both in the new and old testament relating to the arrival of Christ.
It is a time to study and reflect upon what God wants us to do for Him and His people.
A few weeks to reflect upon what Christmas really means.
I challenge you to hold off on decorating your home and office for a while, do some reading, do some studying, pray and reflect and prepare yourself for Christmas.
Then on December 25 when the Christmas Season starts, celebrate this grand season of joy that runs from December 25 through the Epiphany which falls on January 6th this Christmas Season.
photo credit http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Advent_4_Kerzen.jpg
