Advent Is Here. . .
Have you noticed that Christmas decorations are appearing in stores (and, in some cases, have been since early October)? Have you been seeing more signs advertising the "must haves" for your Christmas celebrations? Perhaps you've even caught yourself humming a Christmas carol or two. . . .
When we observe Advent for just four weeks, the temptation is great to think of Advent as a season of preparation for the celebration of the nativity. But it really is much more than that. Advent invites us to prepare for the coming of Christ at the end of time even as we welcome Christ's appearance in our weekly assembly and in the world to which we are sent.
For all of these reasons and more, St. Mark's will once again be observing an expanded Advent - seven weeks, instead of four - beginning on Sunday, November 12.
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