Family - our greatest Christmas gift

As we commence the liturgical season of Advent, it is important to recall what this time of our year means to a College founded on the Christian message of the Uniting Church. The Uniting Church in WA highlights that the Church year begins with Advent, observed on the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. Advent has two foci related to the general theme of the coming of God in Jesus Christ (adventus - Latin, meaning arrival). The first emphasis is on Jesus' final coming in glory and the need for Christians to be vigilant and ever ready, because no-one knows the "time or the hour". The second is on the immediate preparation for the ministry of Jesus embodied in John the Baptist and his preaching. The Gospel readings for the fourth Sunday of Advent always prepare for the Christmas season by recalling the events in the life of Mary and Joseph prior to Jesus' birth.

This time of the year is also associated with the preparation of gift giving. The Uniting Church in South Australia tell us that CHRISTMAS and GIFTS seem to go together in everyone's mind. For many congregations, the Christmas gift-giving begins early with packing shoeboxes to be sent to less fortunate children. Our Junior and Middle School boys, under the guidance of their Chaplain Rev Wright, have been arranging these boxes for the last few weeks. The gift-giving may continue as we place gifts under 'giving trees' in shopping centres and assemble food and toys into Christmas hampers.

We also prepare personal Christmas gift wish lists and try to find the 'perfect' gifts for family and friends. An interesting development in recent years is the practice of donating money to charitable causes in the name of (and as a special gift to) family and friends. But the greatest Christmas gift is God's gift of his Son, our Saviour. Jesus came, bringing joy, hope, love and peace: four gifts traditionally celebrated in Advent, the four Sundays preceding Christmas.
At this time of the year I believe the biggest gift we all have is that of family. As we move ever closer to Christmas the need to refocus on the meaning of family is ever more important. In modern society, the definition of family is no longer as clear as it used to be. Michelle Blessing, a mental health professional comments that:

''Family' is a single word, with many different meanings. People have many ways of defining a family and what being a part of a family means to them. Families differ in terms of economic, cultural, social, and many other facets, but what every family has in common is that the people who call it a family are making clear that those people are important in some way to the person calling them their family."

To be part of the Scotch community already brings with it an incredible amount of connection and togetherness. Let us never take this for granted and always look for opportunities to enhance the lives of those with whom we come into contact. I read an article recently which commented on the fact that due to the pace of life, families quite often fail to find time to sit together and share in meal times. As we prepare for what can be yet another busy time of the year, let us all try and focus on our own families and if possible assist families who may face uncertainty and loneliness at Christmas.

There can be no greater gift at Christmas than the gift of family.