When the holidays and the special rituals of celebration are upon us, it's as if time changes meaning. At least that seems to be true here in the United States. Depending on our situation, work either slows down or becomes more frantic. There is "before" the holidays, (during)"the" holidays, or "after" the holidays. All indicate the revolving of our lives around the days when we celebrate family, faith, and fellowship.

Advent is the season of preparation or "getting ready" for Christmas, for the coming of Christ…Immanuel, "God-with-us" (Matthew 1:23). As we begin this issue of EcuMiniNet™ Online! , we are asking the questions " How do we 'get ready'? How do we grow more mature in faith, or respond to that sense of needing to prepare for the coming of faith/Christ in our life? Also, what kind of meaning does Advent and Christmas hold for us?" The contributors have each shared some of their thoughtsabout these topics.

There is another side to this sense of readiness that is more disturbing. The state of our nation, world, own personal lives, and our faith have undergone a radical transformation. We have not "been ready." We have not been prepared for the impact that the attack on September 11th has made on our sense of security and our faith. Nor are many, many people able to cope with sorting out fears and being able to shift to another level of preparedness. This forces a different focus for all of us in terms of reorganizing our priorities. Perhaps now more than any other time, the blessing of unity that co-exists with our differences will propel us into new ways of life. Perhaps together, we can learn the meaning of "becoming ready."

May this Advent and Christmas season bring us all closer as a faith community and into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. A priority is family. Being ecumenical means that we are "family", a family-in-faith.

May the blessings of faith, love, and community surround all of us this Holy Season. Let us pray together for peace on earth.

Janine C. Hagan, Editor-in-Chief

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