Happy New Year!

Even people from liturgical traditions sometimes think I'm nuts when I wish them Happy New Year on the Saturday before the first Sunday in Advent, but today really is New Year's Eve for the liturgical calendar. Each day on the liturgical calendar begins at sundown on the evening before, so the moment of the new church year's beginning is at sundown tonight wherever we are. Christians borrow sundown as the beginnning of a new day from the Jewish tradition. Hence many of our Jewish sisters and brothers attend Sabbath services on Friday evening. The start of Christmas celebrations is Christmas Eve, so I figure our New Year's celebration can begin tonight.
The Season of Advent on the church calendar is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. He has been coming among us since God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Since He is the Word of God, He is the First Cause of creation. He was made flesh when He was born of Mary to live a human life and die a human death among us and for us. He comes to us any and every time we think of Him, what He has done for us, and what He is teaching us. He makes Himself a part of every human life in ways we cannot understand, whether we like it or not. He will come again to rule the world, and may He come soon! Even those of us who believe in Him will be surprised by the character of His glorious and gentle reign.
In this new Season of a new church year we celebrate all the ways Christ has come, is coming, and will come to us each and all. As we think of Him all the trappings of the season can be signs of His presence, here and now.