Christ Episcopal Church
	Riverton, New Jersey
	HALLOWTHANKSMAS?! Grace be unto you and peace! According to the Christian calendar, the year is quickly coming to a close. The long green post-Pentecost period is reaching its climax in what is often referred to as ‘Kingdomtide’. These gospel lessons show Jesus proclaiming who, what, when and where the Kingdom of God may be found and comes to a climax in the celebration of our Lord’s return to his heavenly throne upon the Feast of Christ the King on November 26^th. The following Sunday, 3 December, marks the Christian New Year – the First Day of Advent, a period pregnant both figuratively and literally as we anticipate a new world signaled by a birth. There is a somewhat different season occurring in the world at large during this time. It is a frantic time which in some circles has even acquired a name: “Hallowthanksmas”. The commercial concerns of our consumer culture have managed to bookend the second busiest retail holiday (Halloween) with the busiest (Christmas), during which we are inundated with exhortations to shop till we drop (or rather more often, buy till we’re broke). There are costumes and decorations and candy, then food and decorations for the gluttonfest of Thanksgiving (an overdoing of both viands and football), then gifts galore (for friend, family, foe and self) at Christmas. Even politicians are trying to sell us something during this season! By the time we limp into January, we are physically exhausted, financially strapped and happy only to pack the whole thing away – at least until the marketing machine cranks up the following August to get the whole ball rolling again. For me, the tragedy is that the Eve of All Saints Day (Halloween), Thanksgiving and of course, Christmas are all at their core, feasts of faith. Dressing up as ghouls, goblins and ghosts helps to remind us that God sees beyond the outward self to the divine spark within (and that we are loved regardless of how sad or bad we look). Thanksgiving calls us to remember the mind numbing blessings that God has so richly bestowed upon the people of this nation and upon us as individuals. Christmas celebrates the greatest gift the world has ever been given, our Savior. Under these circumstances, the church enters into the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, this Advent season. For most (if they are even aware it exists), Advent is little more than a flea on the elephant of the secular celebrations. Yet it can become for Christians an antidote to the commercial mockery of Hallowthanksmas. On Thanksgiving, we can worship with thankful hearts, and offer grace over the turkey and its trimmings before digging in. Then we can enter into Advent, the time of joyful preparation for the coming of our Lord, and celebrate it! Make an Advent wreath here at church on December 3^rd, and use it to mark the passing weeks. Buy an Advent calendar, and open a door each day– many of them have scripture verses and prayers on the inside, and ponder them in your heart as Jesus’ pregnant mother did. Pray a bit more, even if it is just to say the Lord’s Prayer on waking, at noon and upon going to bed at night. Come to a weekday service, and don’t neglect Sundays. Try not to rush putting up the lights, or setting up the tree, as the real time to enjoy them is during the Christmas season, which is December 25^th through January 6^th (the Feast of the Epiphany – remember those wise men?). And in spite of the thousands of commercials and advertisements you will see in the next six weeks, bear in mind that love is not something you can buy, nor is its sincerity measured by the cost of the gift. Should your family or friends find this behavior odd, just tell them you are following an ancient eastern religious practice. After all, you are, and ‘eastern religious practices’ seem to have a certain cachet nowadays. And they may come to appreciate your peaceful approach to these holidays, which may just remind them of the now all but forgotten ‘Christmas spirit’ of days gone by. I am a firm believer in the idea that we can only get out of something what we put into it. The fruit of a glorious, joyful and spirit-filled Christmas can only be borne through the seeds of faith and holy preparation planted during Advent. I may be struggling against the tide of Hallowthanksmas, but the feast of the nativity of my Lord is too precious for me to surrender without a fight, a fight characterized by worship and prayer, joyful preparation and eager anticipation. Have a blessed Advent,