Religion scholar Diana Butler Bass wrote a thought-provoking article about the over-hyped "war on Christmas" we hear about from certain media outlets.  "According to Christian tradition," she wrote, "Christmas' is not the December shopping season in advance of Christmas Day; rather, it is Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the Twelve Days following that run until early January."  During the time when the "war on Christmas" proponents would have us militantly saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone (regardless of their religious beliefs) the church is not merry.  Instead we live into a time of muted hope and expectation.  The four weeks leading up to Christmas is the season we call "Advent."

Butler Bass summarizes:  "Ancient Christian saints, theologians, and evangelists would be horrified that those who claim to stand for tradition have forgotten the most important aspect of it. Jesus Christ was not born that human beings would spend December shopping or saying, 'Merry Christmas.' Jesus was born to confront the rulers of this world with the love and justice of the God of Abraham -- that Jesus, the same Jesus who preached that the poor and marginalized were blessed, is the King of kings and Lord of lords. All earthly powers pale before him."  She concludes:  "And maybe, just maybe, the real war of this season is the War on Advent."

We lit the first candle of Advent in church this past Sunday.  Come join us the next three Sundays to experience the quiet "muted hope and expectation" of this season.  It is our much-needed antidote to the frenzy of the secular side of Christmas.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Willie