Advent’s origins date back to the Middle Ages, when it was a pre-Christmas season devoted to prayer and fasting before the coming of Jesus. Here in Bethlehem, Advent is commemorated with the lighting of giant outdoor candles – one for each of the four weeks before Dec. 25.

For the past 54 years, the Christmas City has also held an annual non-denominational Adventbreakfast to bring the community together to celebrate the beginning of the sacred season.

This year, 225 people attended the breakfast sponsored by the Citizens Christmas City Committee of the Bethlehem Chamber at Moravian Village.

The morning program was highlighted by the playing and singing of seasonal music by the Bethlehem Area Moravian Trombone Choir and the Broughal Southside Carolers. Breakfast attendees joined in lighting Advent candles and singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Jesus, Call Thou Me,” whose appropriate lyrics included reference to “lowly Bethlehem – not Jerusalem. Favored Bethlehem! Honored is that name.”

Among the breakfast speakers was Bethlehem City Councilwoman Olga Negron, who said it was a joy to be part of all the city’s Christmas preparations.

The Advent message was delivered by the Rt. Rev. Kevin Nichols, IX Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. Referring to himself as a relative newcomer, Rev. Nichols was installed as bishop in September 2018, moving from New Hampshire with his wife, Patti. He said he felt blessed to be in Bethlehem. “It’s like moving to Florida. It’s so warm.”

In his address, the bishop said, “The season of Advent is a time of beginning in our calendar. There is no better time to look at the tools we need for what is before us.”

The top seven of those tools, according to Bishop Nichols, are:

• “Do what you can for justice. Do what you can; where you can; when you can.”

• “Listen. Jesus listened; we are called to do the same in our communities, especially the voices of those in minorities.”

• “Be patient.”

• “Give authority away. Leaders – authority is never ours. In the church, it belongs to Jesus.”

• “Water.” Smile “wherever God places us.”

• “Hone our religious practices. Worship and learn and teach.”

• “The hardest one. Confront your fears. The ones that keep us up at night.”

Bishop Nichols concluded with the following quote: “Vanish your fears, Bethlehem; vanish your fears. God is coming.”