Teach Us to Number Our Days. Barbara Dee Baumgarten

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       The dates for the shortest possible Advent season, beginning on December 3.

      The anticipation of Advent is a response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The secularization of Christmas has made Advent into a cornucopia of choices and demands. It can be the most harried time of year. We are called by God to live integrated lives with God, humanity and creation. Advent counters the dis-integration of the false life with a pause—to see, hear and watch for the coming of Christ. We let go of anxiety, fears and anger and pursue trust, justice and dependence on God. Within the context of Advent, attention to the gospel can restore us to an integrated life. Through symbolizing the progression of days on the calendar; through listening to the Word; through praying and singing our yearning; through smelling the greens, fasting and helping the stranger, we prepare for Christ’s Advent.

      This book is offered as a way to enrich and focus your household observance of Advent. It begins with a historical overview of how the season developed that is followed by a biblical reckoning of Advent themes and persons. The middle section contains the details of Advent: the symbols, persons, traditions and events you may want to include on your calendar. Each symbol has an accompanying scripture verse, description and suggestion. Finally, the last section provides three models for making a personalized calendar to mark the days of Advent. Consider making the junk-mail version once or twice before attempting the felt or quilted version. The final chapter contains the actual symbols for copying, coloring and transferring onto your calendar. (Note: The first year you make one of the cloth versions, you may want to specify coloring the symbol for the day’s activity. At Advent’s close, the symbols will be ready to transfer.)

      The book and resultant calendar can be used to facilitate daily prayer and ritual, as well as to contribute to Christian education about the symbols, traditions, personalities and beliefs central to the season of Advent. The origins and meaning of Advent and some Christmas customs are presented, many of which are already popular practices. Yet many of the living traditions inherent to Advent are obscure in meaning, and other practices may be unfamiliar altogether. Learning the meaning of what we do strengthens our experience of Advent and ultimately our relationships with God and one another.

      Advent is meant to be a time of introspection and reawakening of our true selves; therefore, setting a daily rhythm for using the calendar is well worth the effort. Just as we consult our secular calendars in preparation for the coming day, opening the Advent calendar and reflecting on a symbol’s meaning provides a foundation to live by daily. The daily practice will equip you in your service to Christ. Take the experience signified by the calendar to the lighting of the candle(s) on the Advent wreath. (An Advent wreath devotional is provided in chapter 4.) Prayers and/or conversation may reflect on how the symbolization of the day impacts its event and your faith. Sometimes the impact may be too subtle to notice. Practice awareness of its influence. The more aware you become, the more manifest the coming of Christ will be in your life.

      The goal is to make consistent use of the calendar and the Advent wreath. Days will occur when you are lucky to get the calendar opened, much less enter into any type of ritual! Such is the way of contemporary life. Do not judge yourself when you neglect the calendar or wreath. Simply be aware of your omission and allow this awareness to encourage the following day’s observance. A prayerful, disciplined observance of Advent prepares us for an abundant celebration of Christ’s arrival. Blessed are we who live in homes rich with focused rituals that awaken, condition, and strengthen us to receive Christ and enjoy the fruits of the coming!