Waiting for the Man With the Bag

We are currently in the liturgical season of Advent. It is the 4 weeks prior to Christmas, where we are in the midst of (to paraphrase John the Baptist) preparing ye the way of the Lord. In the Western church, it is the start of the Liturgical New Year.
Some churches use purple themed vestments and cloths. My particular parish uses blue. There's no one color that is better than others. Purple is generally the color of repentance where blue is the color of hopefulness; the color choice can color what kind of Advent you may have.
There are a variety of ways to prepare for Christmas and recognize the need for Advent. I use the comparison of birth: you do all sorts of preparations before your baby comes. You buy stuff for when the little one comes home. There are parties celebrating their imminent arrival. Then there is a quiet space where you are just resting, in the expectation that your life will change forever because of one little baby.
And you know what? It did.
This year there has been a movement to reclaim Advent as it were, called Occupy Advent. It's a simple concept: prepare ye the way of the Lord.
One of my spiritual practices that I enjoy is praying Compline each night before bed. I am an Episcopalian, which comes from a long line of monastic traditions. Compline is the final prayers said before sleeping in the Liturgy of the Hours. For me, it's the consistency and repetition of praying it every night for years and years and years that just is comforting. I have an app on my phone for the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (the Episcopal Church is the American brach of the Anglican Communion). This Advent I have sought out different versions of Compline from different traditions-Australia, New Zealand, free form-for me to prepare ye the way of the Lord.
One of my favorite Advent traditions is the Advent Wreath. It's a simple concept there are 4 candles, three of one color (either purple or blue) and a rose or mauve colored candle. For the first three Sundays you light the 3 same colored candles, with the rose colored one being lit the final Sunday of Advent. Prayers can be said, hymns can be sung. Or it can be silence.
I am particularly partial to this one
http://www.liturgy.co.nz/blog/advent-wreath-blessing/174

To make an Advent wreath, you need
4 candles (3 of either blue or purple and 1 pink)
Candle stands
Wreath
Ribbon
Decorations

Wrap ribbon around wreath
Add doo dads
Place candles on stands in the middle

Count down to Christmas and prepare ye the way of the Lord