One of the many joys of life is reminiscing. As a boy, I remember how Advent was a time of preparation for Christmas with special church services and sacrifices; a time when the house had the wonderful smells of Yuletide cookies being baked and the sweet odor of candy bubbling on the stove. The fruit cake was aging.
On Christmas Eve, we went to the woods to cut our tree---it was placed in its stand, and the smell of cedar dominated. Then, on to church for the beautiful candlelight service. It was then that an image of the Baby Jesus was placed in the manger, while we all sang Silent Night in German.
Toward the end of the service, the minister would give each boy and girl a bag of candy. Then we couldn't wait to get home. We always found our tree decorated and our gifts under it: the Wonders of Santa, but later I learned it was a Dear Aunt who was our Christmas Eve Santa.
Times have changed in our computerized age, but for me much of the spirit remains as we sing "Prepare Ye The Way" to welcome our Newborn Son.
This piece was written for St. Mark Presbyterian's 1984 Thoughts on Advent booklet (December 18, 1984) by former member A. Peine. If you have a Christmas or Advent memory or a favorite Christmas Carol, please feel free to share it. Just send it to J. Morgan or put it in the Communications Committee mailbox
No comments:
Post a Comment