'O Little Town ...'

By Patricia Kasten
Compass Associate Editor

As the days of fall shorten around us and the store jingles turn to Christmas, The Compass would like to remember that Advent - a season of preparation and reflection - is coming. And we need your help.

During Advent, many people begin to put up Nativity sets - first comes the stable, then the animals and the shepherds. Finally, Mary and Joseph. The angels and infant Jesus arrive on Christmas Eve. (The Magi come last, on Epiphany.)

We would like to share that sense of preparation, so we are asking our readers to submit digital photos of family Nativity sets. They can be a photo of the entire set, or just of certain treasured pieces. They can be in pristine shape, or pieced back together with glue as many end up being after years of family use.

We will choose some of the photos we receive to compile an Advent/Christmas slideshow for our Web site: www.thecompassnews.org. And, each week during Advent, The Compass will also feature a "pick of the week" Nativity set photo in the paper.

Submit your photos, by e-mail, to: compassnews@gbdioc.org.

One photo per family, please.

Help us share Advent season as a family time of memories and prayer that slowly and quietly builds to the glory of Christmas.