Advent has arrived and before we know it Christmas will be here with all of its festivities and traditions. Already we are bombarded with so many things to get done before Christmas arrives that it can seem rather overwhelming. Yet, Advent invites us to take out time to prepare our hearts for the reason behind the busiest season of the year.

Advent reminds us of Christ's Second Coming to prepare us to get ready to celebrate the Son of God's first arrival to earth in the form of a vulnerable baby. Advent challenges us to prepare our hearts to meet the Christ face to face. Because if our hearts are not ready to receive Christ once again, then the celebration of Christmas is just another holiday that has become another excuse to eat, drink and be merry.

Sadly, for most folks this is what Christmas has become. Christ has been deleted from the meaning of this most holy of days. Can you imagine people celebrating your birthday and not even mentioning your name? Well that is what has happened to Christmas. Even the saying of 'Merry Christmas' has become forbidden in polite society lest we offend someone. No one thinks about how this offends the King of Kings! Yet, Advent is here as a reminder that the One, whom we are told by the politically correct to not mention, is coming back and we need to be ready to meet Him.

So here at St. Raphael's by the Sea Anglican Church, we are going to go against the current and become known as the 'Merry Christmas' people. Wherever we go, we will not be afraid of saying, "Merry Christmas". In fact, some of us will be wearing 'Merry Christmas' buttons as a reminder to all for the reason of this most sacred season.

To all of our friends and family, both far and near, we here on Fort Myers Beach wish all of you a Blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas!

Blessings!

Pastor Alice+