Show I Advent Or OrN r N News evs Years ears N Now ow ov This Sunday Dec 3 pastors and priests throughout Christendom Christendom Christendom Chris Chris- will greet their people with a mischievous smile and the greeting Happy New Year Yearl THESE MEN have not lost their calendars nor have their and they are right in their proclamation for this is the First Sunday in Advent the beginning of the Christian calendar cal cal- As we begin with Jan 1 and count through the year by months and days in our common calendar so the Church beings with the month its year or season of Advent and continues throughout the year with the liturgical li liturgical li- li turg cal seasons of Christmas Epiphany Pre-Lent Pre Lent Easter and so on I Advent means coming This is the season when we prepare for Jesus' Jesus coming It is our preparation for a day birth-day party party party par par- ty His birth day this is the basic reason behind the giving of presents at Christmas as the Magi brought gifts to the babe so we present ourselves to Christ as gifts of loving adoration adoration adoration adora adora- tion and present tangible gifts to one another in commemoration tion of ot his coming 1 I WHILE WE prepare to re receive receive re- re the infant Jesus with joy and celebration we find the Advent Advent Advent Ad Ad- vent season re reminding minding us of an another another another an- an other coming of Christ the Second Coming when he shall confront the hearts of all men as the Lord and Master of all his Creation Mingled with the joy of birth is the sorrow of the cross and the awe of majesty for Christmas is but one chapter in the drama of ot redemption As the words of one of Charles Wesley's hymns puts it He was born thy people to deliver born borna a child and yet a King |