Is its the Advent of Christ or cash we are waiting worshipping

Saturday 1st December (just).

It's the first day for advent calenders (though not the first day of Advent, which is tomorrow, ). Some generous friends have given my two children lovely, chocolate filled advent calenders, both of which have themes from children TV. much to their delight.

What these calenders don’t have is any reference to Christmas or the nativity story in any way, shape or form. I may being just getting less tolerant in my old age but I find this kind of crass commercialism of my faith community’s major festivals less and less acceptable. I find it verging on the offensive that key parts of my faith community’s liturgical life can just be lifted and used for commercial gain and nothing else. It flies in the face of everything we believe Christ is about.

I am not suggesting that Christians create a furore in the manner of the Sudanese teddy-bear, absolutely not, but I do think its about time we started saying can we have our Christmas back please.