Advent Day 8 - 6th December 2020

A colleague recently asked me. “What can I do for you to make your December less busy?”
Usually I write off the month as being filled with Primary School Carol Services, other Carol Services,  Village Christmas Tree lighting, Playgroup events, Breakfast with Father Christmas, Christmas Tree Festivals, Nine Lessons and Carols services, PTFA events, Christmas concerts…and all this on top of regular church services, a job, presents to buy, food to order and cards to write. The idea of Advent being a time of rest, reflection and preparation has been a joke. 
But not so this year. All the busy-ness that used to fill my December has been cancelled. Churches are working more colaboratively and there is just less to do. For the first time in a long time I am able to have an Advent Season. A time of preparation, preparing my heart and life for the celebration that is the birth of the Christchild; the moment when God breaks into His created World and dwells among us.
So to answer my colleague’s question, “Nothing thanks. I’m enjoying the rest!”

Caroline Harding