11 December 2025

Recently there was an advertisement in a glossy magazine for incredibly expensive Advent calendars FOR DOGS!   I wonder how many of those who create and produce these things have any idea what the word, 'Advent' means in this context?  The dictionary says that 'advent' means 'the beginning of an event, the invention of something, or the arrival of a person' (Cambridge Dictionary) and in the Christian churches, of course, it means the arrival, or looking forward to the arrival, of Jesus.
I wrote, last week, about how Christmas has ceased, for most people, to be 'an event of the heart and of the home' and has become SO commercialised in Britain and the idea of Advent calendars filled with chocolate, perfume, jewellery, even car parts(!) or for dogs starkly underlines this.
For Christians, Advent is the time when we look forward with eager longing for God's coming into our world; a time of hope and joy and also of thoughtful, humble penitential preparation.
What, from the past year do you need to offer to God at this time?  What - if anything - do you need to ask forgiveness for?  What do you need to do to feel able to meet Jesus face-to-face with clean hands and a pure heart filled with love, joy and hope?
I'm sure Jesus would have enjoyed chocolates – not so sure about the jewellery or perfume – but I know that he would prefer to have us turn our daily thoughts to him in love, hope and penitence during this time.
During Advent this year Jonathan has suggested that we use the following prayer in our Sunday services and I suggest that it provides a good framework for our own, personal daily prayers ...

Heavenly Father,
you call us to repent of our sins:
soften our proud and stubborn hearts.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you declared the forgiveness of God:
teach us to forgive one another.
Christ, have mercy.

Holy Spirit,
you search our hearts and show us the truth:
direct us in your way of righteousness.
Lord, have mercy.
Amen.

With love, faith, hope and joy
Jacquie xx