What IS Advent?
Attended a high church Advent celebration on Sunday afternoon. It was an Advent variation of the Lessons and Carols that NPR has broadcast on Christmas Eve Day for years and years. The lessons were all Advent scriptures. The music- ah, there wasn't a Christmas carol in the lot.

Most pastors who try to do "advent" will find themselves in at least a little trouble with their congregations. Everyone wants to start singing Christmas Carols at the beginning of the month. It is so nice and sweet and the like. Yet Advent is not Christmas. Advent is getting ready. Advent is waiting. Christmas is the arrival.

Unfortunately many of the Advent hymns are done in minor keys and, at times, feel like "downers." They may be plainsong or chant and not have that happy-go-lucky attitude we have come to "love" about Christmas. So, as I headed up to the city to go to this Advent service I was preparing myself for the old Advent and its somewhat low-key message.

Boy was I surprised.

Brass and upbeat arrangements of hymns and instrumentals. The power of plainsong was overwhelming. It was joyful, even in the not-yet-Christmas feeling of Advent. Afterward a friend and I were talking about this and I mentioned the word "joy." He responded, "Yes, the joy of anticipation." Hmmm. Anticipation is not a downer. It is excitement in waiting. You know that something exciting is about to happen. You wait. As patiently as you can. So why not let the music express that joy.

In many ways it is a shame that we, in our instant gratification culture, want to rush into Christmas, even before its time. Advent- anticipation- is filled with a lot of joy as well.