Friday may

have kicked off the holiday shopping season, but Sunday

marks the beginning of Advent.

For

Christians, it is a time of anticipation and penance in

preparation for the mystical birth of Christ.

Many people

celebrate Advent by assembling a wreath of fresh greens

studded with four candles, representing the four Sundays

before Christmas. Three purple candles and one pink

taper, signifying Gaudete Sunday, are lit each evening in

succession as Christmas approaches. A prayer or Bible

reading accompanies the lighting.

This ritual

can be especially meaningful for children. The lighted

candles are a visual reminder that Christ is the light of

the world; the more candles that are lit, the closer the

time is to celebrate his birthday.

The word

advent is derived from the Latin "adventus"

which means coming. During Advent, Christians prepare

their hearts and homes for the arrival of the Christ

child. A calendar fitted with 25 doors, to be opened one

at a time, is a familiar way for children to begin the

special countdown.

Other ways

families and individuals can keep the spirit of Christ

alive in the weeks preceding Christmas include assembling

a Jesse tree. The ornaments symbolize the prophecies of

Jesus' coming found in the Old Testament and their New

Testament fulfillments.

Handmade

Chrismons, monograms or symbols of Jesus made in white

and gold can be hung amidst the glittery balls and tinsel

to remind the faithful of God's purity and majesty.

The

Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville has

scheduled a reflective communion service Saturday

evenings during Advent starting this weekend. The service

starts at 5 p.m. The church invites holiday shoppers who

are spiritually hungry to the service where that may find

food for the Christmas spirit.

The church

is in a shopping center across from the entrance to The

Fayette Pavilion on Ga. Highway 85.