By Thea Jarvis

The season of Advent is an elusive one. No sooner do we see the last of the turkey and the first of the Advent wreath than Christmas is at our doorstep, with a tree to be decorated, gifts to be readied, holiday parties to be given and attended.

If Advent makes an appearance at all, it is in spite of its untimely scheduling between two holidays, one of which seems to begin in July and go on forever.

Those who cherish the four weeks before Christmas as a time of inner stillness and peace do so with determination and courage. To honor Advent is to be out of step with the flow of traffic to the mall, out of sync with the world's time clock, out of patience with values that sap strength from lives of conscience.

Because it becomes increasingly difficult to retain the spirit of Advent when we are constantly pressured to turn the pre-Christmas weeks in to a consumer orgy, many parishes around the archdiocese have sponsored programs and projects which attempt to capture the heart of the season.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna wasted no time in focusing on Advent as a time of special meaning and importance in the church year. A parish Advent festival was held even before the Thanksgiving holiday so parishioners would have ample time to reflect on their Advent commitment.

While Advent is observed liturgically in Scripture, symbol and community, most Advent customs lend themselves to home settings and individual use.

Sister Mary Anne Warner, H. M., who organizes St. Thomas' Advent festival, "Where Shall We Find Him?" geared the day for those who wanted to make Advent a part of the home scene.

While young children played in the nursery and pre-schoolers were treated to a special explanation of the season, four workshops were held, each offering a different Advent tradition for use in the home.

Hand-crafted "love gifts," advent calendars and wreaths, waiting chains and promise branches were not only explained during the workshop sessions, but actually made by participants, allowing them a "hands on" experience of Advent customs.

Parishioners Sue and Hank Miller came to the Advent festival knowing how important the season would be to their son, Justin, almost two, as he grows.

"I'm from a family with a lot of traditions," Mrs. Miller explained. "I'd like to carry on those traditions and learn some new ones as well."

The Millers, who teach a tenth grade religious education class and found many of their students also participating in the Advent workshops with their families, are now enjoying the fruits of the festival in their own home.

Their Advent wreath is prominently displayed and young Justin easily relates to the idea of "Jesus' Birthday." He is delighted with the candles and regularly treats his parents to his own rendition of the happy birthday song. On Christmas day, a birthday cake for Jesus will be one of the main entries at the Miller's holiday table.

At dinner, the family uses the scriptural waiting chain they made at the Advent festival. Each evening, a different passage from the Scriptures is prayed before the meal.

And each of the Millers will have his own "love gift" -- a holiday placemat made from clear contact paper and old Christmas cards.

As Justin gets older, Hand and Sue Miller plan to let him make his own Advent wreath, a non-flammable model they were introduced to at the church workshops. Made of paper plates, tissue rolls, and construction paper, it is easily constructed by inexperienced young hands and is a safe remembrance of the season that little ones can handle and enjoy.

The Millers and the over 60 other families who gathered at St. Thomas for a Sunday afternoon of Advent traditions and customs know that Advent needs a time and place of its own if it is to grow flourish and serve its purpose as a preparation for the Christmas coming.

Sister Mary Anne Warner, delighted with the response to the parish effort, feels those who came "got that little shot in the arm they needed to get them going."