Here we go again! Its Advent, and Christmas is upon us. Writing cards, going to break-ups, putting up decorations and lights and, of course, buying gifts for loved ones: these are just some of the extra things at this time of the year that make it, at the same time, a delight, and a drag. We love to see the faces of children light up at the joy of receiving a present; we marvel at the awesome displays in shops, on roofs and in front gardens; our hearts are warmed when we receive cards from friends in far away places; we enjoy spending time with friends at the close of the year.

Yet these things are all added to our usual daily routines making our lives so busy that we can find it too overwhelming. Things we used to revel in become a task to be completed because of "family tradition" – sometimes a tradition of our own making! With all the intense advertising getting earlier and earlier in the shops, we can feel pressured, depressed and frustrated.

Christmas can be a very hard time for some of us, especially those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, unemployment or poor health. Similarly, those of us on our own, and in our latter years, may find little to be joyful about.

How does the gamut of different feelings affect our attitude towards worship during Advent? Some of us are so eager for Christmas we want to sing Christmas carols from the first Sunday in Advent Others would like to miss Advent and Christmas altogether.

In our church services during Advent the overwhelming emphasis is one of waiting and watching, with a growing sense of joyful anticipation. Those who want Christmas carols early may be somewhat disappointed that they have to wait until Advent 4 before carols are dominant in worship. On the other hand, those who would wish December away may find the services of early Advent a place of peace and quiet reflection.

My hope is that the theme for this year will help all of us to enter into a Christmas that is able to lift us, no matter how we are feeling, to find hope and love are born anew. Hannes and I are working around the theme: Listening to the prophets – preparing for new birth. We hear from a different prophet each week – Jeremiah, Malachi, Zephaniah and Micah from the Old Testament, and Paul, John the Baptist and Mary from the New Testament.

The prophetic voices of old can help us recall prophetic voices of our present time – voices from many sources – that can help us through the "birth pangs" into the thing that God is calling us to within the Uniting Church.

While on Christmas Day we focus primarily on the birth of Jesus Christ, the whole of the Advent and Epiphany season is not just about his birth as an infant, but his birth in each of us, and in his church.

May Christ be born anew in each of us this Christmas Season!