Advent begins today, so I thought I would take the opportunity to say something positive about Christmas for a change! The Church of England has put together an online advent calendar with video reflections for each day. The theme is waiting, and contributors include Archbishops Rowan Williams and John Sentamu, and Bishop Stephen Cottrell, who explains the theme:
“This Advent Calendar is a timely resource as we approach Christmas in the credit crunch. It offers people a breathing space in what is often a busy and stressful time of year so we can all consider how best to use our resources. We hope the website reminds people that waiting is not a waste of time but, as we see in nature, a time of change, growth and transformation. Advent is the season in which the church celebrates waiting as an essential part of human experience – it is much more than the countdown to Christmas or the season of shopping.”
Abbot Christopher Jamison also contributes. We mentioned his thoughtful views on waiting before.
Viewers may be disappointed by the lack of chocolate in an online advent calendar. “What this website offers is a daily dose of chocolate for the soul,” is Mr Cottrell’s advice to you.
- See www.whyarewewaiting.com to view today’s video.
- Our review of Stephen Cottrell’s book ‘Do Nothing – Christmas is coming.’
- Abbot Jamieson’s address on waiting.
- I’ve been working on some Advent reflections of my own for work. More details here.
The Earthbound Report 
Thank you for commenting on my site – I know the article was long, but I thought it was worth sharing!
V.