Happy Christmas! We seem to have been saying that for a very long time, as every year Christmas comes ever earlier.

It is far from easy for Christians to prepare for Christmas when all around it comes so soon. That this is so presents a real difficulty for those who would like to make their hearts ready to greet the Christ child.

For that the Church has the solemn season of Advent, with its purple vestments and solemn music of preparation, yet all of that runs counter to what goes on around us.

It is far from easy for us to prepare for Christmas, when it has already come for most people! On the day after Thanksgiving I heard on the radio that it was "kick off Christmas weekend!" That kind of sums it all up succinctly.

On returning to England from a pilgrimage to Assisi in early October, my wife and I were a little surprised to find that some shops had Christmas decorations up, not many, but a few. Not many days later in Boston I noticed that the decorations in stores were much more widespread, with lights and trees commonplace. In Bermuda the process has been much the same for a long time with the "Christmas season" beginning ever earlier. This is largely for commercial reasons.

Then there are the parties, dinners, lunches and carol concerts we all will have attended, well ahead of this day, the birthday of Jesus, born of Mary, God's only Son. If we have been distracted and harassed over the past few weeks (and I am sure you have!) here are some suggestions for next year.

First, do not slavishly follow the pattern of the world and begin Christmas too early. Do what needs to be done in terms of secular preparation, but also try to have a proper perspective and keep Advent holy. Make sure too that worship is a part of that preparation.

Secondly spend some time each day in Advent in prayer to God, looking forward with the eagerness, awe and wonder of a child to the birth of our Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the world. Allow yourself to be caught up in the joy and wonder of his wondrous birth! In that way Christmas becomes much more real and full of meaning.

May the presence of Jesus bring to you and your family, peace, joy and happiness.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas.