Happy New Year! Today we begin our new liturgical year with the celebration of the First Sunday of Advent. Advent is a sacred season in which we prepare for the coming of Christ in three distinct ways: remembering Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, anticipating Christ’s triumphant return at the end of time, and welcoming Christ anew into our life here and now. Advent is a season that invites us, both personally and communally, into an ever-deeper transformation in Christ.
As the coming weeks will be filled with decorating, shopping, and attending parties, may it also be filled with prayerful reflection, service to others, and study of God’s Word. To help with your Christmas decorating, we are offering wreath-making kits in the Guild Room after all services (see page 5 for details). As you do your Christmas shopping, we hope that you will consider giving a gift to the poor from our Angel Tree. One sacred and inspiring “party” you won’t want to miss will be our Service of Lessons and Carols on December 18th at 3:00 pm. As for opportunities for prayerful reflection, service to others, and the study of God’s Word during Advent, I encourage you to look through the Acts of St. Paul’s in this bulletin for our many wonderful parish Advent offerings.
May God bless us on our sacred Advent journey of preparation, anticipation, and transformation!