This Sunday marks the start of the season called Advent.

The world demands that we run around in a frenzy shopping, going to end of year functions, cooking, eating and more shopping- right until we hit Christmas. Then for many families Christmas Day itself is a frenzy of activity getting the presents sorted and then driving off for lunch and dinner with the various rellies.

Boxing Day we move on to sport in Australia- the Sydney to Hobart yacht race and the Boxing Day cricket Test in Melbourne before rushing on to New Year and then Back to School.

The church year invites us to slow down. Advent, the four Sundays before Christmas Day, is a time for waiting expectantly for the event of Christmas. It makes the event of Christmas Day a focus in the same way as children counting the sleeps.

Advent waiting is the good kind of waiting- the waiting for something we know will be good. It's like being engaged and looking towards marriage, or being pregnant and looking forward to the new life being revealed.

This year, I am going to try to produce a photographic expression of Advent for each Sunday.

Here is the photo for this Sunday.