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**Make Jesus the star that guides you all of your life

This is another in the Advent series for the family.
Beginning Jan. 7th and each night through Jan. 9, light the four candles and pray either the following prayer(s) or your own family meal prayer(s).
Before Meal All make the Sign of the Cross
Leader: Glory to God in the highest.
All: And peace to his people on earth.
Leader: Lord Jesus in the peace of this season, our spirits rejoice with the three wisemen, with Mary and Joseph, we sing God’s praise.
By your coming may the hungry be filled with good things, and may our table and home be blessed. Glory to God in the highest.
All: And peace to his people on earth.
After Meal
Leader: The Word became flesh, alleluia.
All: And dwelt among us, alleluia.
Conclude with a verse of We Three Kings and the Sign of the Cross before extinguishing the candles
Nativity Scene
Place the Wisemen in the manger scene on the evening of Jan. 7 or early on the morning of Jan. 8, the Feast of the Epiphany
You might read and talk about verses from the New Testament regarding the Epiphany of Jesus:
MT 2:9-12: The Wisemen
MT 2:13-15: The Flight into Egypt
MT 2:16-18: The Holy Innocents
Reflection Questions on the Readings for The Epiphany of the Lord
Reading I: www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm, Isaiah 60:1-6 (Your Light has Come)
Reading II: www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm, Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 (Co-heirs, members of the same Body)
Gospel: www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm, Matthew 2:1-12 (Guided by the Star)
Reflection questions
Adults: What is the Star that guides my life? To what does it guide me?
Children: When have I been overjoyed to recognize or find something?
(1/06/06)

**Make Advent a part of the family anticipation

Editor’s note: This is another in a series promoting family Advent celebrations.
Meal Prayer
Beginning Dec.17 and each night thereafter, light three purple candles and one pink candle and pray either the following prayer(s) or your own family meal prayer(s).
Before Meal All make the Sign of the Cross
Leader: Blessed are you, Lord God of all Creation in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you in this food and in our sharing. Blessed are you as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!
All: Come quickly!
After Meal
Leader: Let us live soberly, justly and devoutly in this world as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior Jesus, Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Conclude with a verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel and the Sign of the Cross before extinguishing the candles.
Nativity Scene
Move Mary and Joseph to the room where the manger scene is. Move them closer to it each day.
You might read and talk about verses from the New Testament regarding the journey of Mary and Joseph:
MT 1:18-25 Joseph’s Dream
LK 2:1-3 The Census
LK 2:4-5 Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem
Advent Angels
(Weekly or more often, as desired)
Place several 3- 5 inch pieces of straw, string or yarn in a container. Invite all to draw slip of paper that has the name of a family member or friend written on it.
Each one is to do a good deed for the person whose name they have chosen. When they do that good deed, they are to place a piece of straw, string or yarn in either the crib or the manger scene.
Invite all to watch for signs of the goodness of God in their lives. When such a sign is recognized and that recognition is communicated to others, another straw may be placed in the crib or manger scene.
Reflection Questions on the Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent:
Reading I: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12,14a (I have been with you)
Reading II: “http://www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm” Romans 16:25-27 (To God be the Glory)
Gospel: “http://www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm” Luke :26-38 (Be It Done unto Me)
Questions for adults
When have I felt God’s presence guiding me in impossible circumstances?
When have I been willing (or forced) to “let go and let God?” How did it turn out?
Questions for children
Have I ever had to change my plans and had things turn out better than I could have imagined? What plans might I be asked to change this week?
(12/16/05)

**Jesus is coming: are you ready for our Lord?

Advent Wreath

Meal Prayer
Beginning Dec. 10 and each night thereafter, light two purple candles and one pink candle, praying either the following prayer(s) or your own family meal prayer(s).
Before meal: All make the Sign of the Cross
Leader: Blessed are you, Lord God of all Creation in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you in this food and in our sharing.
Blessed are you as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!
All: Come quickly!
After Meal
Leader: Let us live soberly, justly and devoutly in this world as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior Jesus, Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Conclude with a verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel and the Sign of the Cross before extinguishing the candles.

Nativity Scene

(Weekly or more often, if desired)
Action: Place Mary and Joseph in another room and move them closer to the room where the manger scene is each day.
Reading: You might read and talk about verses from the New Testament regarding Mary and Joseph:
Mt 1:1-17: A family record of Jesus Christ, son of David ...
Lk 1:5-25: Announcement of the birth of John the Baptist
Lk 1:26-38: Announcement of the birth of Jesus
Lk 1:39-45, 56-66: The Visitation of Elizabeth by Mary
Lk: 1:46-55 Mary’s Canticle
Lk: 1: 67-80 Zechariah’s Canticle

Advent Activities

Have supplies on hand (e.g. pipe cleaners, crayons and paper shapes, etc.) to create a symbol for the saints, below.
Saint stories and activities can also be found at http://blestarewe.com/litcal/index.cfm click on the appropriate date.
Dec. 12,
Our Lady of Guadalupe
The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe can be found at http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=456 or at http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1227
Dec. 13, St. Lucy
The story of St. Lucy can be found at http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=75 or http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1228
Dec. 14, St. John of the Cross
The story of St. John of the Cross can be found at http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=65 or http://www.wau.org/resources/saints/saintarchive/john_of_the_cross.html
After reading or telling the story of the saint ask:
-- “What in the story of this saint stands out? Who was he or she? What did he or she do?”
--After talking about his or her life, ask, “What can we make to put on our Christmas tree to remind us of St. _____?”
When finished, place symbol on tree and pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God for this saint.
(12/09/05)

**Ponder the questions of Advent: are you ready for the Lord?

Beginning Dec. 3 and each night thereafter light two purple candles and pray either the following prayer(s) or your own family meal prayer(s).
Before meal all make the Sign of the Cross
Leader: Blessed are you, Lord God of all Creation in the darkness and light. Blessed are you in this food and in our sharing. Blessed are you as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, Now and forever.
Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!
All: Come quickly!
After Meal
Leader: Let us live soberly, justly and devoutly in this world as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior Jesus, Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Conclude with a verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel and the Sign of the Cross before extinguishing the candles.
Nativity Scene
Place Shepherd(s) in room and move him/them each evening toward the manger scene.
You might read and talk about Old Testament passages describing the anticipation of the coming of Jesus, eg:
Is 7:10-14: The Lord will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child
Is 11:1-10: A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse
Is 35:1-6,10: The desert and parched land will exult...here comes your God
Is 40:1-11: In the desert prepare the way of the Lord!
Advent Angels
Place several three to five inch pieces of straw, string or yarn in a container. Invite all to draw slip of paper that has the name of a family member or friend written on it.
Each one is to do a good deed for the person whose name they have chosen. When they do that good deed, they are to place a piece of straw, string or yarn in either the crib or the manger scene.
Invite all to watch for signs of the goodness of God in their lives. When such a sign is recognized and that recognition is communicated to others, another straw may be placed in the crib or manger scene.
Reflection questions on the Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent
Reading I: www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm, Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11 (Prepare the Way of the Lord)
Reading II: www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm, 2 Peter 3:8-14 (Waiting for a new Heaven and a new Earth)
Gospel:www.usccb.org/nab/112705.htm, Mark 1:1-8 (The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness)
Adults: The “Day of the Lord” will come when least expected. With that awareness, what paths in my life need to be made straight in order to reveal the glory of God? What sort of person ought I to be?
Children: What things in my life do I need to change to be the kind of person God wants me to be?
(12/02/05)

**The Advent Wreath is full of seasonal symbolism

By Rhonda Lohkamp, director, Office of Religious Education
We are offered a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and communicate our faith in the Advent Wreath and the exploration of symbols.
The evergreens which comprise the wreath signify the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ.
Its circle shape, having no beginning or end symbolizes the eternity of God,
The number of candles represent the four weeks of Advent, each one of which originally symbolized one thousand years and together represented the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior.
The three purple candles symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works undertaken. The rose candle is lit on Gaudete (Rejoicing) Sunday because the midpoint of Advent has arrived, preparation is half over and Christmas is close at hand.

**Blessing the wreath

The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the living and the dead
On the evening of Nov. 26, place the Advent wreath on the dinner table or other place. Gather and bless the Advent wreath. After praying the following Blessing, light one purple candle.
Blessing: All make the Sign of the Cross
Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: He made us and we belong to Him.
Leader: During this season of Advent, as the days grow short and the nights grow longer, we remember how we wait for the salvation promised by our God.
Gathered around this wreath let’s listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing. (Is. 9:1-2)
The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: Let us pray for God’s blessing upon us and upon this wreath. Lord, our God, We praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: He is Emmanuel, the hope of peoples, He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, He is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God, Let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Light the first candle and make the sign of the Cross. Conclude with a verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

Meal Prayer

Each night thereafter, light that purple candle and pray either the following prayer(s) or your own family meal prayer(s).

Before Meal

All make the Sign of the Cross
Leader: Blessed are you, Lord
God of all Creation, in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you in this food and in our sharing.
Blessed are you as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, Now and forever.
Leader: Come, Lord Jesus!
All: Come quickly!

After Meal

Leader: Let us live soberly, justly and devoutly in this world. As we wait in joyful hope For the coming of our Savior Jesus, Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, Now and forever.
Conclude with a verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel before extinguishing the candle.

Nativity Scene

Set up manger scene with the stable, manger, animals. (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Wisemen and Angel remain out of sight)
Reading: Each evening you might recount a story of the Major Old Testament figures who came before Jesus and their relationship with God:
Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:4-3:24)
Noah (Genesis 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17)
Abraham (Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-6)
Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19)
Jacob (Genesis 27:41-28:22)
Joseph (Genesis 37, 39:1-50:21)
Moses (Exodus 2:1-4:20)
David (1 Samuel 16:17-23)
Isaiah (Isaiah 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7)
(11/25/05)

More Advent activities


**Advent begins a new year for the Catholic Church

By Rhonda Lohkamp, director, Office of Religious Education
Advent begins Sunday, Nov. 27, and marks the beginning of a new Church year. For weeks we have been seeing signs of this coming change: Christmas displays, trees, garlands and sales are in evidence everywhere we turn.
As Catholic Christians, we observe this shift in seasons different than the secular world.
We observe Advent as a season of waiting, of hope, of anticipation, of longing for the coming of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We remember his first coming in history and the thousands of years that our ancestors in faith spent waiting and hoping for his arrival.
We recognize the mystery of his coming to be in our midst today in Word and Sacrament, in community and in service.
We are called to repentance and renewal as we await his glorious return in majesty at the end of time.
By offering several suggestions in this column over the next several weeks, we hope to provide the tools to support you in observing these seasons faith-fully in the home and in community, with family and with friends.
Each week in the Advance you will find suggestions for conversation and or activity around the following tools: the Advent Wreath, the Traveling Holy Family, Advent Angels and a Reflection Question for the Sunday Readings.
Some preparations should be made for the following tools to be ready to begin the first week of Advent.

How to make an Advent Wreath

You will need a wreath of greens or greens that can be laid in a circle; three purple candles and one pink candle, or three purple bows and one pink one to tie around each of four white candles; four candle holders. For Christmas you will need four more white, gold or red candles. You will also need a Nativity Scene.
An optional activity will follow inviting participants to identify and then create a tree ornament or picture reflecting an aspect or virtue of the saint which they would like to imitate. Having pipe cleaners and/or drawing supplies available would be necessary to create the ornament.
Advent Angels is an activity designed to invite service of others as well as to spur recognition of Gods presence through the actions of others. Each time an anonymous good deed is done, the do-er places a piece of straw, string or yarn in the manger.
Each evening participants are invited to recognize the goodness of God in an anonymous good deed done for them or in the action of another and after sharing that recognition, to place a piece of straw, string or yarn in the manger. Either the nativity scene or a separate crib may be used. Straw, string or yarn should be readied before the First Sunday of Advent.
The Reflection Question for the Sunday Readings will be included in the Advance each week as will the citations for the Sunday readings.
(11/18/05)

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