This is Advent

Tonight was the town's Christmas Stroll. This is when all of the business open late, there are lots of goodies and drinks to graze on, there are a few contests around, various musical programs are here and there, a hay ride slowly rolls through town and Santa is at the local burger joint.

For a few of these I would heat up the church, put out a table of goodies, set out a little sheet about Advent and program Ms. Emily to play several Advent hymns continuously. I would also advertise that the church was open as a Quiet Space in the midst of the Christmas rush.

I haven't done that for the past two years because . . . well . . . nobody ever bothered to come in.

During the stroll, I ran into one of my newer parishioners. She approached me about an idea to play some quiet, instrumental Christmas music before service.

I said, "That sounds like a great idea . . . but you need to remember that this is Advent and Christmas doesn't come yet for another three weeks."

"So . . . "

"I try really hard to keep Advent and Christmas separate in the church; so what that means is that we don't have Christmas music until Christmas. You can certainly set that up for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the First and Second Sundays after Christmas."

Yes, I'm one of those Bad Ass Priests that doesn't allow Christmas music during Advent. But she was okay with that, even though she's been playing Christmas music since Thanksgiving.

This is Advent. It's all part of the watchful expectation.