The Advent Police

 

What I am about to write is against my better judgment as it may incriminate me with the authorities, and it may be used in an ecclesiastical proceeding against me.  But I can’t help myself even in the face of the Advent Police.  Yes, the Advent Police.  The Advent Police are those roaming ombudsman who seek out clergy and laity alike (although the penalties as vastly more serious for the clergy) for people who do “Christmas like things” before Christmas during the season of Advent.

Our parish secretary reminded me that they were on patrol recently when she posted an Advent Police Officer citing a fellow member of the clergy for humming a Christmas carol.

Alright, I’m guilty.  Come and get me! 

I have stopped listening to all nine verses of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" while in my pick-up truck, and have opted for Christmas carols on our local Christian station which seems to be immune from the jurisdiction of the Advent Police.  And I sing along!

I have been known to have children singing Christmas carols as early as the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, during the anthem (not at a special Lessons and Carols service). I mean they’re children. Who doesn’t like to hear the little ones all trying to sing, generally off key, in their angelic cacophony? 

 

At my last parish, our Jazz group even played Christmas carols during the exchange of the sign of peace on the Third Sunday of Advent (it is "Rejoicing Sunday" after all).

Just recently, when the Altar Guild asked me if they could put up the Christmas tree in the narthex, I said, “absolutely!” And our ECW had a Christmas Party during the Second Week of Advent!

At our lunch on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, I wished everyone a “Merry Christmas” especially to those who may be travelling and would not be with us at the Christmas Eve service.

And at our home, the crèche is displayed, and yes, Jesus is in the crib, until our three year old granddaughter kidnapped him.  She did bring him back questioning why the Baby Jesus was almost as big as Mary and Joseph.  (It was my Grandmother’s nativity set, and, well, it was easier for her to see Jesus if he was just about as big as the rest of the characters.)

During an Advent season when Christians in Cairo have been killed while in a chapel at the Coptic Cathedral, when terrorists in Germany have driven a truck through a holiday celebration, the Russian ambassador to Turkey was gunned down while at an art display, Aleppo has been reduced to rubble, and after a political season that can only be described as, well choose your adjective (and by the way, the last time that I checked none of the candidates are the second coming of the Messiah--now there's an Advent theme), I can’t think of any reason not to violate the “no sign of Christmas during Advent” rule. We need it.  And just in case you haven’t heard, Jesus has already come!  So I’ll take my chances with the Advent Police.  Come and get me coppers!