Happy New Year!! This month is the beginning of a new year in our church calendar as we prepare for the coming of Christ during the four weeks of Advent. As we begin a new liturgical year, we switch our focus from the Gospel of Luke to the Gospel of Matthew (though we jump back to Luke for the Christmas story). During this time of preparation, we will light a candle each week on our advent wreath. As we watch the light grow brighter in the midst of our darkness, we are reminded of both the coming of Christ, the light of the world, and our own baptismal call to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.”