How do you get ready to get ready? Advent, a time of preparation, of expectant waiting, of getting ready, starts on Sunday…are you ready. I know it seems silly to talk about getting ready to Get Ready. But time has a way of sneaking up on us and before we know it…it’s time. So how do you get ready to get ready. Growing up, it meant making an advent wreath. And that meant finding purple and pink candles. Oh, and purple ribbon to wrap around the wreath. This year I invite you all to make an Advent wreath (it doesn’t have to be round) and then light your candle(s) with us each week. Advent also meant that an Advent Calendar was hung on a wall and we were not to peak behind the doors ahead of time (and this was before the days of chocolate Advent calendars)! Maybe this is a tradition for your family too? If not, you can download a calendar here (chocolate not included) or follow one online here. What about decorating? I want to encourage you all to set up a nativity or creche during advent. We can start with an empty stable and add to it each week. When I served parishes with schools in Texas, we would build the anticipation and expectation of the season by slowly adding the figures to our nativity scenes as we walked though Advent. Mary and Joseph (and donkey too) would travel around the sanctuary until they arrived at the stable just before Christmas. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates as to Mary and Joseph’s journey (you can click the links below). Why not participate in an Advent bible study? The Lord of the Valley Women’s group has invited the women from our parishes in Grand county to join them in their study: Incarnation. In addition, we will be having our regular Sunday morning bible study. The theme for our four week study will be: Come, Thou long expected Jesus. We will start with the text from the Advent hymn and look at some scriptures that support each verse. Grab your bible and bring your questions as we open the scriptures together. (As usual, we will use our Sunday Morning Prayer Zoom link for our study. All the above provide opportunities to engage in sacramental ways as we wait together, both for the birth of our Savior, and his long-expected return! My hope is that you will participate as much as you are able…individually at home, as well as in our corporate (virtual) life together. May the lighting of candles and the building of nativities be outward and visible signs of the grace of our Savior coming to dwell with us as his light shines in and through us! Blessings, Matthew+ | 
