Sunday, November 28, 2010
y SEAN BARRON
news@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Now that Black Friday has passed and the holiday season is in full swing, much focus of the next several weeks will be on erecting Christmas trees and decorations, sending cards to family and friends and hitting the stores to take advantage of the best bargains.
All of those, of course, are traditional activities for many people in the days and weeks leading to Christmas.
Nevertheless, Advent means a lot more than buying the latest Xbox game or biggest flat-screen TV for someone and splurging with a credit card.
Its true meaning lies in having people re-examine their lives and priorities while preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ.
That was the main message gleaned through hymns and Bible passages that were sung and told during Sunday’s “Advent Lessons and Carols” program at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., on the city’s North Side.
A few dozen people attended the one-hour afternoon gathering at the 113-year-old church, which featured the prophesies and music of Advent sung by the congregation and choir. The program was based largely on a service that originated at King’s College in Cambridge, England.
This also was the first of four Sundays of Advent.
One of the Bible readings came from Mark 13:24-37, which talks mainly about the return of Christ and how things need to be set right before final judgment is pronounced, noted the Rev. Bradley W. Pace, rector.
Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.