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De-stress this holiday season with Advent prayer, Christmas worship at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Lake Villa

During this often-stressful holiday season, unwind with peaceful Wednesday evening Advent prayer at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18, and seekers are welcome to celebrate Christmas Eve Tuesday, Dec. 24 with carols at 4:30 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. service at Holy Cross Anglican Church in Lake Villa. The church is located in the one-story office park at 500 Park Ave., Suite 102 in Lake Villa.

Advent--the four weeks preceding Christmas--is not only the beginning of the Christian year, it is a time of waiting, anticipation and preparation for the coming of Jesus, noted the Rev. Ron McGowin, interim rector at Holy Cross. "The giant cultural machine of consumerism treats this same period of time not as Advent but as the Christmas season," he said. "The shopping malls and radio stations shout 'Buy! Buy! Buy!' and 'Go! Go! Go!' and 'Do! Do! Do!' But the Church shouts, 'Wait! Slow down! Listen! Remember! Prepare!

"As the pace of Going, Buying, and Doing build, our parish offers the community a place to wait, slow down, listen, and pray. This Advent season we invite you to 'un-plug' with us each Wednesday evening as we prepare for the coming of Jesus."

Each Wednesday evening will include a combination of readings, prayer and opportunities for individual reflection and journaling, noted Betsy Christ, senior warden of the parish. To help people relax,recorded music will include soothing, contemplative songs ranging from classic Christmas instrumentals

to Gregorian chants.

"The holiday season is a time when many are seeking a worship community," Rev. McGowin said. "While the Anglican tradition is officially Protestant, it's also known as the Via Media, the Middle Way, combining the best of Roman Catholicism (liturgy and tradition) and Protestantism (authority of Scripture and justification by faith). Interfaith couples will find a friendly home at Holy Cross."

Holy Cross Anglican Church is affiliated with the Diocese of Pittsburgh in the Anglican Church in North America. The parish church and offices are located in the brown, one-story brick office park in Lake Villa, on the west side of Illinois Rt. 83 and about two blocks south of Illinois Rt. 132 (Grand Ave.). Following the 9:30 a.m. Sunday Eucharist is a coffee and social hour. Visitors are welcome. To learn more, visit www.holycross-anglican.org or www.facebook.com/HolyCrossAnglican/ or call (847) 356-1901. For more information on the Anglican Church in North America, visit www.anglicanchurch.net.

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