Working in any Youth Ministry around advent is always an exciting time. A time of preparation, anticipation and - most of the time - generally accepted craziness. From one week to the next, in both our churches and schools, there are Christmas jumper days, Christmas film nights, Christmas parties, Christingles and a widespread atmosphere of kindness and goodwill.

Now aside from the fact that the majority of activities run by youth workers and teachers are dictated by term time (if you are one of those people you know how crazy it is!), it is striking how we celebrate so many ‘Christmas’ things in the season of advent. Advent is a time of preparation, a time where we build our excitement for the arrival of the best gift humanity could ever hope for.

Now there is always that one person who says, ‘Why are they doing Christmas things in advent?’ and the first time you actually thought about it you wonder whether they’re right. However, if you spend time around young people in the weeks preceding Christmas and you catch glimpses of their happiness and excitement, they are truly infectious. The need to ‘celebrate’ Christmas throughout December, is not a wish to get it over and done with, but is instead an attempt to precede and prolong this wonderful season.

This infectious JOY, that is ever present in our schools and churches, is central to our lives as followers of Christ. Maybe if we pass it along this Advent, it can become central for others too!

By Katie Flood, Youth Ministry Coordinator of Durham Martyrs Parish.