Trying to decorate for Christmas, getting the cards sent, shopping for gifts and making some cookies, all at the same time, can make Christmas a bit of a chore.

In fact, it can sap the spirituality right out of the holiday.The Rev. Nancy L. Moore, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lehighton, suggests decorating a little bit each week. By doing that, it not only reduces some of the stress, but also carries the theme of anticipation and preparation throughout the season."Advent is a time of hope and preparation, as well as anticipation," she said. "The four Sundays of Advent lead us to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when the whole Christian church around the world celebrates the birth of Jesus that took place in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago."Decorating a little later also came up as a suggestion on the website Catholic Life.The website suggests using the first weekend to clean the house to prepare for decorating. The second weekend, bring out a few decorations, maybe some lights on the house or a wreath on the door. The third weekend, bring out some more decorations and eventually the Christmas tree over the following days.Naomi Rivera, of Cherryville, said ever since she started putting off decorating until closer to Christmas, her family's focus has shifted more toward preparing spiritually for the real reason for the season."Advent takes a primary place now, and Christmas comes later," she said.Every evening before dinner, her family sits down and lights the candles on an Advent wreath, which they placed in the center of the dining room table. They begin with the first Sunday by lighting one purple candle that represents hope. The second Sunday, they light two purple candles. That week represents peace. The third Sunday, the pink candle is added, which represents joy. And the fourth Sunday, the last purple candle represents love."Advent calendars and wreaths are a wonderful way to teach children and families about the coming of our Lord," Moore said.Some churches have switched over to using the color blue instead of purple, Moore said. Blue represents "the hope of the arrival of a newborn King - God incarnate."Purple is also used during Lent, the more penitential 40-day period preceding Easter.At the Rivera's, each day when the candles are lit, a Bible verse is read. Rivera's husband, Eric, uses his Kindle to access the daily readings from the Eternal Word Television Network's website.Although most Advent wreaths are seen with long taper candles, Naomi uses short candles in glass jars."I like votive candles," she said. "They're inexpensive and last a while."At the end, one of their five children blows out the candles. Of course, sometimes they don't agree on whose turn it is to blow them out."We relight it so the person who was supposed to blow it out, can blow it out," Eric said.The family also has a manger where the children can place yellow strips of paper representing hay each time they do a good deed."It has to be legit nice for each other," Naomi said, not picking on a sibling doesn't count.The Rev. William Campion, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Palmerton, said another way to make advent more meaningful is to do something for a stranger. The youth group at his church is adopting a family from Family Promise.The church also does the Giving Tree Project. Parishioners take a tag and purchase the gift requested on the tag. The gifts will benefit people affected by domestic violence, and assist clients of Catholic Charities and the St. Vincent DePaul Society.Jackie Powell, of Pen Argyl, said she and her two daughters, ages 5 and 7, make ornaments and uplifting cards. They like to go for walks, so if when they see a Christmas display they like, they leave an ornament and a thank you card."It's our random acts of kindness," she said.