Advent gives us time to slow down, reflect on real reason for Christmas

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

LLANO — As many of us race along store aisles to finalize our Christmas shopping between family gatherings and parties, it’s often easy to get so caught up in all the holiday trappings that we sweep past the true meaning of the season.

“Sometimes, you just have to remind yourself that God is present every moment of your day,” said the Rev. Leslie Tomlinson of Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church in Llano. “Even in the church, we sometimes get going so much we forget what we’re really celebrating this time of year.”

One way to slow down and reflect is through the celebration of Advent. Many denominations, such as Lutherans, Catholics and Methodists, follow a liturgical calendar with Advent beginning the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It’s a time of preparation for Christ’s birth and even beyond.

“Advent means ‘coming,'” said the Rev. Danielle Casey of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Marble Falls. “It’s the anticipation of Christ. But it’s also about preparing for when he comes again.”

Getting into the spirit and the heart of both Christmas and his eventual return often starts with a service such as the Hanging of the Greens. This is when the congregation ushers in Advent with the decoration of the Chrismon tree and the lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath. Each candle represents a certain aspect of the season such as hope, love, joy and peace. In the center, often sits a fifth candle lit on Christmas Eve that represents the life of Christ.

“For me, it’s a nice symbol to think that Christ is the light of the world, not just now during the Christmas season, but always,” Casey said.

Both pastors spoke of making a point this time of year to slow down and focus on Christ’s birth and Advent.

“Music helps some people remind themselves of God’s love,” Tomlinson said. “Here, we follow the liturgical calendar for the sermon texts and scripture reading, which bring us back to Advent and preparation for Christ. I think that helps people kind of remember what it’s all about.”

Casey added that sometimes it’s a matter of simplifying things and focusing more on the joy of the season than the to-do list.

It’s not just in their roles as church leaders that Casey and Tomlinson try to remember and practice the spirit of Advent and Christmas, but something they also take home with them.

“Even though it’s a hectic season, we’re very intentional about doing things at home to slow down and remember what Advent is about,” Casey said. “We have an Advent set up at home, and Brecken (the daughter of her and her husband, Eric) lights the candles.”

Though it’s a simple act during the week, she noted it helps the entire family slow down and reflect for a few moments. Plus, her husband and herself get to pass on the tradition to their children.

Tomlinson pointed out that sometimes it’s just a matter of remembering Christ’s humble beginnings to help us slow down and reflect on the season.

While Advent lasts four weeks (it started Dec. 1 this year) and Christmas gets one day, the spirit of the time doesn’t have to end when the candles are extinguished after “Silent Night” during the Christmas Eve service or when the last of the wrapping paper is carried out to the trash.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for us to show God’s love and mercy to those around us no matter what time of the year it is,” Tomlinson said.

daniel@thepicayune.com