The Second Sunday of Advent

It is now Wednesday of the second week of advent.  The holiday preparations are ramping up.

The first reading for the Sunday was from the Prophet Baruch, another one who told Jerusalem that the days of mourning were over and to put on the splendor of the glory of God.

I had the joy to proclaim the second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians.  He comforted and encouraged those of Christ by saying, "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."

The gospel continued from St. Luke.  In the third chapter, he historically sets this account of wonder by recounting who was in power at the time. Amidst all of this jurisdiction, a voice cries out in the wilderness to prepare a way for the Lord.

Just Because.....

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Growing up, I and my family didn't celebrate St. Nicholas' Day, even though I'd read about all sorts of "old world" customs like it, St. Lucy's Day and Three Kings' Day.  A friend of mine added it to her kids' celebrations, to encourage their more spiritual side.  But, nope, not here.

And then my kids were asked to put their shoes outside the doors of their Sunday School classes.

Boy, did they get hyped up about St. Nicholas visiting!  The RE Director got a teenager to dress up as the good bishop.

The younger kids receive this prayer card ornament.

The back of it tells the legend of St. Nicholas with what facts are known. 

Now MLB & DLG look forward to this every year, even at my house.

St. Nicholas wants to help my kids look forward to the coming Christmas Day.  He usually brings each a book about the spirit of the season.  Often times, he brings an ornament/decoration to hang on the family tree or to keep near in their rooms.  Of course, he brings a sweet treat.  Last year he brought them peppermints like my dad would give them, and those plush gingerbread people holding little mints, as well as pairs of large jingle-bell stars, all to let them know that St. Nichols was keeping an eye on their Paw-paw in heaven.

This year's visit brought fun:

Hallmark has developed their own North Pole tales, so we now have welcomed little Snowby bear, and books about he & his friends.  There's also little "stationary" sets for their creative side, and more Charleston Chew than they have teeth left to pull.

They tripped over each other putting their shoes out the night before, but MLB was sweet enough to let his sister wake up before collecting his treasures Sunday morning.  They've both read each book at least twice.

What a sweet part of the season.