Advent.
That's the current season in the Church and even in the marketplace.
I did not grow up in a liturgical church. Today, that seems strange to me because Glendale Community Church is an outgrowth of Love Grove Methodist Church. It's odd to me that the Glendale founders did not bring Advent with them.
Note: if you don't know what I mean by a liturgical church, it is a church that follows a customary public ritual of worship, or the Liturgy. In a way, it's a call-and-response activity that reflects praise, thanksgiving, remembrance, supplication, or repentance. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to express one's relationship with God.
And if your next question is, "What is Advent?" It is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus's birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. And it is the beginning of the church year.
Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. Each week, there is the lighting of a candle. There are five candles (either purple or blue), each recognizing a principle to follow: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. In the center of the wreath is a white candle, its flame unlit until Christmas Day.
So with that little teaching opportunity behind me.
This year's first Sunday of Advent was November 30. I thought of this over the weekend, but here I am on Monday, December 1, 2025, endeavoring to get my thoughts into words, sentences, paragraphs, and this blog.
My initial exposure to Advent was in the mid-80s when my children and I worshipped at the University Blvd. Church of the Nazarene. That was the first time I witnessed a family light a candle, read from Scripture, and offer a prayer. For a long time, I was a bit resentful -- always a mother, dad, and children. My family did not have a dad, but we were indeed a family. I am happy to say that by this time in my life, I often see family represented in different ways.
I suppose my resentment was rooted in the fact that I was 'wishin and hopin' that someday I would once again be a part of a traditional family
.
While that did not happen, I am happy to say that all three of my children have that kind of family. That's what I was most thankful for this past Thursday when we celebrated Thanksgiving.
And about what I consider the commercialization of Advent. It's certainly out there. I asked for Advent gifts on Amazon and found about 50 suggestions per page, totaling more than seven pages. I'm not going to Bah Humbug that, because I believe that anything that can turn one's thoughts toward what the Church represents -- especially Peace, Joy, Love, and Christ-- is a good thing!
May you have enough sunshine in your life to help you appreciate the shadows
