Show On Advent By CHARLOTTE HALE SMITH TH What is Advent IF YOUR family observes this season one all too little known in America youve you've discovered discovered discovered dis dis- dis- dis covered a lovely leisurely four- four week adventure toward the true Christmas Heres Here's a natural natural natural na na- na- na tural antidote to frenzied December December December De De- De- De cember commercialism a good way to bring your family together in new warmth and closeness a time of calm and happy anticipation for young and old Advent quite simply is to Christmas as Lent is to Easter a specific time for spiritual preparation The word means coming a happy expectant expectant expectant tant word Even the smallest child in your family will enjoy waiting for the Baby Jesus to come bringing Christmas once again to our tired world ADVENT season begins four Sundays before Christmas Day The date Nov 29 this year is celebrated throughout the world as New Years Year's Day on the Christian calendar Although this this- delightful holy season has been observed throughout Christendom since at least the Sixth Century Advent somehow managed to skip America When early American settlers overrode vigorous Puritan objections and established the Christmas tree and other Yule customs in the colonies Advent customs somehow somehow some some- how got left out DURING THE past two decades however the Advent phenomenon has begun to sweep the country Americans eager to put Christ into Christmas once again have begun to adopt many of the ancient Advent customs from other lands The season belongs belongs belongs be be- longs to Christians of all countries and every denomination tion were we're discovering its significance shared by homes and churches of all Christ- Christ following persuasions How can your family observe observe observe ob ob- serve Advent MAKE AN Advent wreath You'll need just three ingredients ingredients ingredients evergreens to represent undying faith the circle to symbolize eternity and four candles one for each Sunday to sign signify y Christ the Light of the world Evergreens of any ny sort at attached attached attached at- at to a simple wreath shape with four candles placed equidistant within the circle comprise an Advent wreath ON NOV OV 29 perhaps at the evening meal the family's youngest child should light the first candle while father or or an older child reads a short Bible passage or says saysa a simple prayer You'll light the first and second candles on the following following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing Sunday burn those two and a third one on the third week and on the fourth Sunday during Advent just days before Christmas light all four tapers at last THE WREA WREATH TH occupies an honored place on living room or dining room table a constant reminder of the passage of time and the One ne your family awaits What else might you do Young children may want to memorize the Christmas story as told in Lukes Luke's Gospel learning learning learning learn learn- ing one verse a day Others might find short poems prayers or quotations Something Jesus would like one young boy commented to share with the family MANY F FAMILIES AlLIES Al LIES like to torise torise torise rise 15 minutes early each morning during Advent to start these busy days with devotions Take turns reading reading reading read read- ing inspirational selections aloud at the breakfast table and your crowd may find find- the habit too pleasant to break Choose nourishing fare for forthe forthe forthe the spirit food for thought hearty as a bowl of steaming steaming steaming steam steam- ing hot oatmeal on a December December December Decem Decem- ber morning AS EACH family member waits for Jesus to come in some newer deeper way into into into in in- to his life all seem better able to express love and a sort of creative appreciation for both the family unit and the individuals within it What Advent should not involve involve involve in in- volve however is mere sentimentality sentimentality sentimentality senti senti- mentality or an ethereal approach to the Divine Baby who grew up to call us to the sometimes tough and demanding always realistic Christian l life e. e |