The Advent Season: A Valuable Time To Prepare, Reflect And Listen

With the pandemic restrictions lifting, it appears that preparations for Christmas are ramping up with plans for decorating, baking, holiday parties, and gift shopping. Yet, throughout all of this activity, are we taking the time to truly prepare for Christ’s birth by observing Advent?

Gina Bergman, Director of Religious Education, understands the urge to jump into holiday preparation, but at the same time, encourages us to walk into the journey of Advent.

“We’re encouraging all our parishioners to reflect on Advent with a book that we are giving away, Advent Gospel Reflections, by Bishop Robert Barron,” she says. “We’re encouraging all to do this, and particularly couples, to make Advent a goal to do something in preparation.”

The books are available for all in the church narthex.

“It’s a very neat book, very doable, with just good reflections for each day in Advent,” Gina says. “There are lines included to write your thoughts.

“We can make a commitment to ourselves, our families, make a verbal commitment,” she adds. “One way to do it is to just make the same time each day to be still. With a lot of things coming back from the pandemic, things being scheduled, we are finding there now is way too much to do. Advent is a chance to take time and practice solitude and be still. Listen to what God wants you to do. I feel we are trying to catch up right now, but it is important to realize that Advent can be a time to give ourselves solitude so we can hear God’s voice. Advent Gospel Reflections will help that if we put it on ourselves to make a commitment.”

There are additional opportunities here at St. Peter’s to prepare for the gift of Christ’s birth by giving Christ’s love to others through our Giving Wreath that is underway during Advent. This is one way we can open our hearts and make time for Christ.

The students at St. Peter School are collecting baby items for their annual Advent tradition by having a “Baby Shower for Jesus”. The items collected will be donated to CareNet. The school is also starting the Advent season by going to a prayer service on Nov. 29th at 9:30 am.

“The rest of our community benefits from our taking time to put others in front of ourselves, shopping for the requests on the Giving Wreath, and bringing the gifts back,” Gina says. “It is amazing to see how generous our parish is and there is something to keep in mind — that is that even the smallest donation can go a long way. If you have a young family, show your kids how important it is to give time to others. Giving to others is an important part of life and it helps us grow closer to Jesus.”

For more information about the Giving Wreath, please call the parish office at 217-222-3155.*See back page for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses.

We are encouraging all parishioners to reflect on Advent with a book that we are happy to offer, Advent Gospel Reflections, by Bishop Robert Barron.