In a world where wars, turbulence and insecurity rage in numerous locales, the Advent season is a time of stillness and contemplation, of silence and the hope for new birth. "For those in the ...

In the last few decades, that knowledge has taken a back seat to the hustle and bustle of shopping, parties and Santa Claus. Even the "comfort and joy" heralded is more about general feelings of ...

A familiar tension begins to build as Christmas music is heard in stores where weary store clerks take down Halloween displays. Black Friday sales invade my In Box in mid-November from stores I have ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. (Patrick Hruby / Los Angeles Times) Ellen O’Brian hadn’t bought a candy-filled advent calendar in years, but when she saw the ...

Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, is a time of preparation for the arrival of the Christ child in many Christian churches. There are four weeks, four Sundays of Advent, and this Sunday is ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. As Christmas grows closer and closer, those who celebrate are busy with last minute preparations, including gift wrapping, holiday ...

Here we are on the doorstep of Advent, the weeks of preparation before Christmas Day. For those who make use of the liturgical calendar of the Christian year, this Sunday is New Year’s Day, sort of.

The word "Advent" means "coming," and the month of December is the season of Advent, where we wait expectantly and get our hearts ready for Christmas and the celebration of Christ's birth. A way to ...

A cherished tradition in many churches and Christian homes during the four weeks leading up to Christmas is the use of an Advent wreath to ritually mark the time. The faithful can prayerfully count ...

We light the Advent candle, pray in a spirit of hope and go on to enjoy our dinner. This first week of Advent is making its way to the second when we will light the candle of hope and that of peace.

Joy is ever-present in the small things in life—the pause you take to notice the wisteria blooming on campus, or the excitement of hearing your child's sweet voice say, "Hey Mama" when they answer ...

As Christmas grows closer and closer, those who celebrate are busy with last minute preparations, including gift wrapping, holiday baking and celebration planning. However, for Christians, the weeks ...