Huh?  Say WHAT?   It's not even Christmas yet...what do you mean "Happy New Year"?

You may not realize it, but the church runs on a slightly different year than the rest of the world.  We even have our own seasons!  Sunday, November 27 in 2005 (it is not always the same date, a complication we will leave aside here), is the first day of the season of Advent, which is the first season in the church calendar (the others are Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost).

Advent is a very special season, one that often gets forgotten in the excitement of Christmas.  During Advent we remember that there was a time when Jesus had not yet come to earth with his message of love and hope.  We think about the days that led up to Jesus's birth in a manger in Bethlehem.  Most of all, we think about ways in which we could do a better job of being the kind of people Jesus wants us to be.  That is why Advent is called a season of "penance" (penance is kind of a fancy way of saying that we realize we're not perfect and that we want to do better).

Does this mean that Advent is a sad season?  Not at all!  Advent is a season of "getting ready" for our celebration of Jesus's birth at Christmas.  Just as you might (I hope!) take time to clean your room in anticipation of a visit from a far-away friend or relative, during Advent we take time to look at what might need cleaning up in our lives or our world in anticipation of the most important visitor the world has ever known.

On these pages, you'll find ideas for how you and your family can observe the season of Advent in your own home.  Does this mean that you won't have time to trim the tree, bake cookies, visit Santa or do your Christmas shopping?  No way!  All we ask is that you take some time to remember "the reason for the season."  Think of some ways in which you can make yourselves, your family and the people around you ready for the wonderful celebration of Jesus's birth. -- by Audrey Nickel