pomp semen Advent means coming. This Holy Re ADVENT, SEASON OF PREPARATION BAA Season set apart by the church to 2 prepare us for the birth of Our That very busy time of year, the Divine Saviour at Christmas is of The advent Season begins month of December, is with us once again. This month, with all its Christmas related activities, can be a wonderful and meaningful time for us if we have the right perspective. This is the reason for the season of Advent in the Church which al- ways begins four Sundays before Christmas. Advent helps us usher in the season of Christmas properly and meaningfully. Advent means coming, the com- ing of Christ, and the coming of Christ has a three fold significance. First, we think of our Lord’s first coming, some 2000 years ago. We also anticipate and await His second coming, and then, there is His coming in the here and now. In Advent, we are reminded that Our Lord comes to each and every- one of us personally now, if we allow Him entrance into our lives. My fervent prayer this Advent season is that each one of us will so prepare his heart that we will long with earnestexpectation for the Christ Child to be born anew in our lives this Christmas, and that He will be our constantcompanion throughout the new Christian Year. Rev. John S. Prater Prince of Peace Episcopal Church 5 The first record of the celebration of Christ’s birth is traced back to the fifth century and was believed to be held at Gual, Spain. The Ad- vent Season was a time of pre- paration for Christmas. Even as preparations for the fes- tival took place in Spain in thefifth century, we too start to decorate. The stores are preparing. Train loads of toys arrive so that Santa will be able to see that each child discovers a wonderland under his Christmas tree. Do we adults really celebrate Christmas? The religious value of Christmas to many of us today is minimized, the day among adults four weeks duration. It reminds us that Jesus who came in history, who continues to come in mystery, is finally to come in majesty. In the garment of Christianity that should be seamless like the garment that was taken from Christ on the cross we find it torn and shredded. Advent is the yearning, the calling to the Lord, to come and in his own person heal all divisions, set all things right, banish evil and make us all a holy people of God. The longings of the Old Testa- ment prophets for the coming of the Saviour are deeply meaningful for us as the Church calls them to us during Advent. The Church looks forward to the fulfilment of these prophecies. We who live in time look to the removal of the veil of time to the eternity, the ever present Now which time veils from us. We yearn for the coming of Christ to teach us the way, that the desires of our life might be fulfilled with the ever present Christ- mas of eternity. Rev. Francis A. Kane Gate of Heaven Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes! The Saviour promised long: Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice a song. Philip Doddridge, 1735 Advent is a season of anticipation — anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also a season of pre- paration — a time to prepare our- selves to enter into all that this birth experience means for every person. The birth of Jesus is more than an old, sweet story for grand- parents and children; more than an event or fact in Bethlehem so long ago. It is through this event that God chose to enter history. In it he willed to enter the world — his world — a world grown corrupt with hatred, war, sin, sorrow and November 28. This season in the Church Year goes back to the Fourth Century. Itisthefirstseason and consists of four Sundays. In the Western Church it always be- gins with the Sunday nearest St. Andrew’s Day or November 30. Since the Church Year revolves around the Saviour Jesus Christ, - Advent Sunday is the New Year’s Day of the Church. Advent is a time for spiritual preparation for Christmas. Its mood is one of pray- er and repentance. The vestments are violet in color. The purpose is readiness for welcoming the Christ- child on Christmas. Advent is observed throughout the world. In many countries Ad- vent calendars are used in the homes. In America the most com- monly used is the Advent Wreath. This is a wreath of evergreens with four candles. On each Sunday a candle is lighted while appropriate scripture is read. The word Advent means ‘‘Com- ing”. Thus this seasonlooks for the Second Coming of Christ as well as to His First Coming. 3 I Rev. Frederick Eidam | St. Paul’s Lutheran “os pre” Sz any Starts tomorrow - - - STOREWIDE | being degraded into one of ex- changing gifts, given in a sense of | obligation. In too many homes, the | children are not taught to tie the merrymaking in with the gift of God suffering. He entered it declaring to all men, “I care about this world. I care about you.” And so, Christmas is not just an Select by Coty & Yardley WHITMAN'S SAMPLER CHOCOLATES 675-1141 — — —" GD GED SED co GEE SE Aa CE Gm. GE GEE ES GE CED END GOES GEIS GI SE GS GS GUE GEIS GIES GENO GNM GENS GEA Ge Cm Gm G— — | | | i [ | to the universe in the person of his us the most precious gift ever given in love and affection to mankind, your Son, Jesus.” May you all have a very Happy and Holy Christmas. Rev. Henry E. Westfield Huntsville Methodist Church observance of the birth of a good COSMETIC Son, Jesus Christ, without whom man who inspires us, along with CHRISTMAS | we would have nothing. other good men. Rather it is a time GIFTS from Once I was asked, “If you did for singing, shouting and dancing, not have the Christmas tree and for God cares about struggling, our LARGE | all the decorations, would you still striving, crying, hating, loving, SELECTION be able to celebrate Christ’s birth?” living, dying people — so much My answer was, “Yes, for in my SO, that he chose Jesus the Christ e Chanel prayers when I say, ‘Thank you as his special way of saying this e Arpege | God for sending us your Son,’ I to you and to me. It was a *“‘special e My Sin am celebrating Christmas 365days ~~ delivery note” of LOVE. Itdeclared e Coty | a year and I do not need a Christ- his love for us — it invited us to ° Yardley mas tree to be reminded.”’ share his love with others. May all Christians this Advent Advent calls us then to consider Season, and each day thereafter this DECLARATION OF LOVE MEN’S SETS say, “Thank you God for giving and this INVITATION TO LOVE — thus becoming a co-partner with God in making this broken world of ours whole. “For as many as received him, to them he gave power to become . . .”” WHOLE. Rev. Charles F. Gommer, Jr. Trucksville Methodist Church HOLIDAY SLACK SETS ¥ Popular Pastels # Matching Sweaters and Slacks * Silk Blouses to match eVelours eWools Gift for the * Weskits and Slacks everyone on your list ne EXQUISITE LINGERIE priced to please Smart FINO'S sweATERS BLOUSES} | Santas. Shop 10 ‘til 8:55 Pharmaey Tomorrow and SAVE Rexall ROSEMARY SPORTSWEAR t| 20% to 50% on Nationally ans Back Mouniuin Shopping Center Famous Brand Items Shavertown GIFT VALUES For through-out the store! Ee
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers