ADVENT Family Guide -2012 A Season of Listening & Anticipation
A Season of Listening and Anticipation - Family Version The season of Advent is about waiting, about preparation, about quiet and mystery. It is a time to reflect on the Old Testament promises of the Nativity of Christ and on our waiting and expectation of His Second Coming. Advent can help us quiet ourselves and our children for a few moments to think about and enjoy these days leading to Christmas day. As part of the Anglican Communion, we celebrate Christmas not as a single day but as a season of the church year. Advent and Christmas are two different seasons. Advent begins the liturgical year on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues through Christmas Eve. It is followed by the season of Christmas which lasts for 12 days, and culminates with Epiphany, sometimes referred to as the 12th night of Christmas. Both the season of Advent and Christmas play a distinctive role in our liturgical church year. A Little History: The celebration of Advent originated sometime during the 4th century. Originally Advent was meant as a time of preparation for Epiphany, not Christmas. It included various celebrations of events in Jesus life such as the visit of the Magi, His baptism, the miracle at Cana, and focused on prayer, fasting and reflection. Often Advent was a time where converts to Christianity prepared to be baptized. Later, in the Middle Ages, western churches began to use this season primarily to prepare for the advent or arrival of the birth of Jesus and the advent of His Second Coming. The original Advent season combined celebration with a time of somber reflection and penitence. Today Advent in the western church is about waiting, reflection and preparation. It can be a time, even in the midst of the commercialism of Christmas, when families and individuals can quiet themselves for a few moments to think about and be thankful for the Lord s presence in their lives.
Advent Practice: Listening for God and anticipating His work in our lives. A Season of anticipation and hope * Advent is from the Latin word, adventus, which means coming. * It is a time to reflect on the Old Testament promises of the nativity of Christ and on our waiting and expectation of His Second Coming. * It begins this year on Sunday, December 2nd and concludes on Monday, December 24th, Christmas Eve. * The first Sunday of Advent begins the new year of our lectionary cycle. We are now in year C. * The liturgical color of Advent is purple or violet, although some traditions choose blue. The Advent Wreath - first steps Before Advent begins, make an Advent wreath Special Note to our St. B s Kindergarten- 6th grade parents/caregivers: Your children will also be reflecting on God with Advent wreaths during their Sunday am formation hour. The reflections may at times be different then what is in this guide. If you are also doing wreaths at home, encourage your children to lead the discussion and elaborate on what they also discovered in their class that morning. This kind of repetition is a good thing. (Wreaths and candles are available to purchase at the St. B s bookstore.) An Advent wreath is a devotional tool used in a ritual that includes the ceremonial lighting of candles as well as Scripture reading and a time of prayer. Its symbolism, devotional style and purpose is easily adaptable to your family or individual personal taste and schedule. Within this calendar we will give you the basic scripture readings as well as some additional readings and activities to use with the Advent wreath. What Do You Need to Have? * One circular base made out of nonflammable material such as wire or clay. It should be large enough to fit five candles (four around the outer edge and one in the center.) * Three purple candles, one rose or pink candle and one white candle (all with holders). There are a total of 5 candles. * Evergreen or nonflammable/artificial greenery. What Do The Candles and Wreath Symbolize? The Candles: Each candle has a specific meaning associated with different aspects of the Advent story, all preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. The light of the candles represents Christ, the Light of the world. The four outer candles represent the time of waiting. As each candle is lit in progression each Sunday, the light increases symbolizing the pushing back of darkness with Christ in the center. The Wreath: Circular to represent God s eternity and the everlasting life found in Christ. Greens: The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life.
HOPE - THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT PREPARATION: Gather your family, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first purple candle Open the Bible to today s passage: Isaiah 9 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: What is our hope in Christ Jesus? Is He truly the light of our life? This candle is purple and represents expectation or hope. It is sometimes called the prophet s candle, and is to remind us of the hope of Jesus arrival. What do you think the light of this candle represents? (Jesus) The light of these candles represent Jesus. The birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of God s promise to come to us as the light of the world. OPEN THE BIBLE: Read Isaiah 9:2 followed by a moment of silence. PRAY: What do you think the darkness is? (Take answers). Has everyone seen the Great Light? (Take answers) Does everyone know He is with us? (Take answers) Advent it is a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus. But, preparation begins with knowing that Jesus is the light of our lives? Let s take a few minutes to ask Him how we can best prepare our hearts to welcome His light into our home and everyday lives in a special way this Advent. Take a minute to ask yourself, is He your light? (Encourage them to ask and listen for Jesus reply in their hearts.) What are some ways you believe Jesus has told you to prepare for Him this Advent...Is it in the form of thinking differently about Him, or doing things differently? Do you believe you know Jesus? Do you want to know Him better? This Advent is for you and your relationship with Him. (Take another moment of silence and then ask what everyone is really thinking and write down their replies on the following page.) Note to parents: Remember, the youngest in your families will often have the deepest and most open response...listen and take note. (Ask someone to volunteer to close in prayer, remembering to thank the Father for sending His son, Jesus to be our light of the World.) Optional Prayer: Father God, thank you for the season of Advent and for the opportunity to prepare our hearts for you. Thank you for sending us Jesus, the light of the world. Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song,it does not have to be a Christmas carol. Or, take some time to listen to part of Handelʼs Messiah.
Listening and Anticipating God this Advent What did your family hear during todayʼs Advent reading? How can you use todayʼs readings to anticipate Jesus giving you more hope in Him and in your life? ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY OPTIONS FOR THIS WEEK: * Make a list of family, friends and neighbors who would appreciate extra help and prayer during Advent. Talk about how you can step out and help as individuals or family. * Make a manger out of a shoe box that symbolizes Jesusʼ manger. During Advent, add strips of straw for (or strips of colored paper to symbolize straw) each time someone does something nice for someone else. Explain this is to prepare the baby Jesusʼ manger with kindness and love. * Make Advent cookies in the shapes of animals or stars. * Bring out the family creche-but donʼt put everything out at once. For December 2nd put out the stable and animals. * Christmas Prayer Cards: Place Christmas cards you receive in a basket near the dining table. During the holidays, read one card at dinner each night and pray for that family. * For older children: Read Matthew 24:36-44. Discuss ways we all can prepare for the Lordʼs second coming.
PARABLE ORNAMENTS Making parable ornaments during Christmas is another way of listening to Scripture and remembering the real message behind our celebration of Advent. Each week an ornament is made that reflects a parable from the Bible. These ornaments may be hung in a special place until Christmas Day then talked about during the 12 days of Christmas. Supplies for Advent: * Clear plastic ornaments for each person participating, times 3 weeks. * Salt (2 tbls. each person) * Mustard seeds (2 tbls. each person) * 10 goldfish crackers for each. * 8x8 netting and 6 inches purple yarn for each * Sunflower seeds (2 tbls. each person) * 1 purple permanent marker Week 1 Pour salt into each of the clear ornaments Read aloud: matthew 5:13 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Ask: How can we be salt to our friends and neighbors during Christmas? Write the verse on each ornament: Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. Week 2 Pour mustard seeds into the clear ball ornaments Read Aloud: Matthew 17:20 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Read Aloud Matthew 17:20 again Say: Listen to the words and what Jesus was saying to you and I. Do: Talk about different ways it sometimes feels like you may not have very much faith or about ways Jesus has helped you when you didn t know what to do. Put the Scripture Mt. 17:20 on the ornament. Week 3 Give each participant 10 goldfish crackers, a netting square and 1 piece of yarn. Read Aloud: Matthew 13:47-48 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Who are the fish? What is the net? Do: Put goldfish into the netting and tie the top with the yarn. If you want, type up the verse and insert within the netting. Read Aloud again: Matthew 13:47-48 Week 4 Put 2 tbls. of sunflower seeds into each clear, empty ornament Read Aloud: Matthew 13:37 Ask: What do you think Jesus means in this verse? (Take answers) Ask: Who is the Son of Man? (Take answers) Do: Put the Scripture on the ornament with a permanent marker: Mt. 13:37 Christmas Eve Put all the parable ornaments on a table or shelf near the wreath. Read each verse aloud and reflect on what each of you heard from the Scripture. Write down the quotes and save them with the wreath for next year.
FAITH - THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT PREPARATION: Gather your family, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first candle for Hope and the second for Faith Open the Bible to today s passage: Luke 1:26-38 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: READ: PRAY: What does faith mean? What kind of faith does it take to say yes to Jesus? Today s candle represents faith...the faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He loves us, and wants us to know and trust Him. Today s passage is about Mary. Mary was a young woman chosen by God to be the mother of His son, Jesus. Jesus would be both human and divine. Mary had a choice to say yes or no to God s request. Let s read today s Scripture. But when you listen try to think about how Mary must have felt? Luke 1:26-38 God spoke to Mary through the angel Gabriel. Was Mary scared at first? (Take answers) Did Mary question the angel? (How and why?) Was the angel gentle and understanding or mean and gruff? (Take answers) What was Mary s answer to having God s baby? (Take answers then read vs. 38) When we feel God asks us to do something do we argue, ignore Him or do we put our trust in Him, even though it may not make sense? (Discuss) Let s read vv. 38 one more time together, I am the Lord s servant, Mary answered, May it be to me as you have said. Let s take a moment to be quiet and listen to find out if the Lord has anything He wants from us that we should say yes to. Are there any situations or things that you feel like the Lord is asking you to do, give up or say yes to? (Take answers and write them down on the following page.) Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer. Optional prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you have given us choice. Thank you for also giving us an amazing example of faith in the person of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Please help us to have the faith to say yes when you ask something of us. Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song, it does not have to be a Christmas carol.
Listening and Anticipating God this Advent How can you use todayʼs readings to anticipate and grow in your faith in Jesus today? ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY OPTIONS FOR THIS WEEK: * If you made a shoebox manger to symbolize Jesusʼ manger, this is the time to talk about the nice things everyone did for others this week. For each nice thing done, add a strip of straw (or strip of colored paper to symbolize straw). * Talk about what nice things Jesus does for you. Talk about ways you are trying to grow your faith in Him. * Sometime during the week have a noisy time. Have your children, on the count of three, make annoying and loud noises for 10 seconds. Let them know that when you raise your arms in the air theyʼll need to stop the noise and join you singing, Silent Night. Afterwards, ask: What were the differences between the loud and annoying noise and the song? How was this activity like or unlike the peace Jesus brings us? * If you are placing Figures into your family creche, today is the day you place Mary, Joseph and the donkey.
JOY - THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT PREPARATION: Gather your family, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first candle for Hope, the second for Faith and this third candle is for joy. This candle should be pink or rose colored. Open the Bible to today s passage: Luke 2:8-14 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: READ: PRAY: What does it mean to be joyful? What are some things that you are joyful about? What are some things about Jesus that gives you joy? Today s candle represents joy...the angels joyous message that Jesus, our Savior, was born. Luke 2:8-14 followed by a moment of silence. Picture what is must have been like for the shepherds that night when the angel appeared. (Discuss) What does the Bible say the angel looked like? (Discuss) The good news the angel spoke to the shepherds was of the promised savior. Let s read vs. 10 & 11 again. While the verses are read, listen to the angels words and think about what the shepherds must have felt or thought. Think about what God wanted them to know. Do you think the shepherds would have been joyful? How do you think they felt when suddenly a huge heavenly choir of angels started praising God together? What do you think God is telling you about being joyful and happy? (Discuss) God is with us now and we have so much to be joyful for because of Him. Let s talk about things that Jesus has done for us that bring us joy? (Take answers and write them down on the following page.) Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer. Optional prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the gift of your Son, our Savior. Thank you for the joy of having you in our lives. Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song, it does not have to be a Christmas carol.
Listening and Anticipating God this Advent What did your family hear during todayʼs Advent reading? What are some ways you can anticipate Godʼs joy in your life today? ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY OPTIONS FOR THIS WEEK: * If you made a shoebox manger to symbolize Jesusʼ manger, this is the time to talk about the nice things everyone did for others this week. For each nice thing done, add a strip of straw (or strip of colored paper to symbolize straw). * Talk about ways you can make someone else be happy, joyful. Recommend that each person this week write or draw a note complimenting someone else. Explain that to Jesus we are all created special and we should treat each other as special too. * If you are placing figures into your family creche, today is the day you place the angels. * Look through the family Christmas cards and say a prayer for each person who sent you a card. * Plan to have your children participate in the St. Bʼs annual childrenʼs Christmas Eve pageant. Rehearsals are Saturday, December 23rd from 9:30-11:30 (meet in Wallace hall) For addtʼl information, contact Carla Schober at cschober@stbs.net.
LOVE - THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT PREPARATION: Gather your family, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Light the first candle for Hope, the second for Faith, the third candle for joy and this fourth candle for love. Open the Bible to today s passage: John 3:16, 17 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: READ: PRAY: What are some things that Jesus has taught us about love? What does it mean to love and be loved by the creator of the universe? Why do you think Father God sent Jesus to us as a baby? Today s candle represents love and reminds us of how much the Father God loves us by giving us His son. John 3:16 and 17, followed by a moment of silence. Ask everyone to listen to what God is telling them personally. What does this Scripture say about Father God s love for us? (Discuss) What does this Scripture say about what Jesus will do for us? (Discuss) Not everyone knows about Jesus, God s son. What are some ways we can share about Jesus and His love with others this Christmas? What are some ways God has shown you His love this Advent? (Discuss and write the answers on the following page. God loves us all! Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer. Optional prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you gave your only Son to us to save us from our sins. Thank you for this Advent season when we can focus on You. Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song, it does not have to be a Christmas carol.
Listening and Anticipating God this Advent What did your family hear during todayʼs Advent reading? How are some ways you can anticipate and respond to Godʼs love for you today? ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY OPTIONS FOR THIS WEEK: * We are coming to the end of Advent. Talk about the straw of kindness that is hopefully filling up the manger. Encourage everyone to keep up the good job of being kind to others as Jesus would have us be. * Cut out one large red paper heart and write Godʼs Love on it. Pass the heart around to each family member and have each share one way God shared His love with them that day. * Place a white candle into the center of the Advent wreath in preparation for Christmas Eve. * Set an empty spot at the dinner table tonight...this is to remind everyone that Jesus is coming and is welcome in your home. * Talk about wrapping a present for Jesus for Christmas day. Ask what that Christmas present should have inside and how it should be wrapped? * If you are placing figures into your family creche, today is the day you place the shepherds. * Look through the family Christmas cards and say a prayer for each person who sent you a card. * Plan to have your children participate in the St. Bʼs annual childrenʼs Christmas Eve pageant. At this point the practices are over but itʼs still not too late to join in or invite guests. Contact Carla Schober at cschober@stbs.net to find out more. Ages: 2 years old-6th grade.
CHRISTMAS EVE PREPARATION: Gather your family, Advent wreath with candles, and a Bible. Place the white candle into the center of the wreath. Light the first candle for Hope, the second for Faith, the third candle for joy, and the fourth candle for love. Now light the center white candle. Open the Bible to today s passage: Luke 2 Invite someone to open up your time together in prayer. REFLECT: READ: REFLECT: PRAY: What are some of the things we have learned during Advent that help us better understand who Jesus is? Today s candle is white. It is called the Christ candle to symbolize the Christ child s birth. Option 1: If your family is not participating in the Christmas Eve pageant, read through the entire Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20 Option 2: If your family is participating in the pageant, read through Luke 2:1-20 and ask the children to talk about their important roles in sharing the message of Jesus to those visiting in the pews. Option 3: Review each Scripture from the four weeks of Advent by reading them aloud followed by a time of reflection. What are some of the emotions that Mary, Joseph and the shepherds must have felt that Christmas Eve and why? (Take answers) What are some ways we can celebrate the wonder of Christmas Eve in our home tonight? (Take answers and write them down on the following page.) Invite someone to lead in the closing prayer or have each person add a part to the prayer and have the adult close. Extinguish the flame. Optional: Sing a favorite worship song, it does not have to be a Christmas carol.
Listening and Anticipating God this Advent What did your family hear during todayʼs Advent reading? How will you anticipate Jesus moving in your life this year? ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY OPTIONS FOR THIS WEEK: * We are now at the close of Advent. Take one more chance to add straws of kindness to fill up the manger. * Compare the Christmas story from Matt. 2:1-5 and Luke 2:1-20 to what the culture says about Christmas. Ask the following questions after reading: Did Mary ride a donkey to Bethlehem? Did the stable have cows and donkeys in it? Did the angels sing their message to the shepherds? * Remind everyone that Christmas season hasnʼt even started in our church tradition. Christmas starts on Christmas day and continues for 12 days. * Set an empty spot at the dinner table tonight...this is to remind everyone that Jesus is coming and is welcome in your home. * Christmas Day Eucharist/service is tomorrow at 10:30. Nursery - 3 year olds will be available.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24 4:30 p.m. Family Eucharist with Pageant 8:00 p.m. Eucharist Celebrating the Nativity 10:00 p.m. Carol Sing 10:30 p.m. Choral Eucharist Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25 10:30 a.m. only (Childcare for 3 years olds and under only) His sheep follow Him because they know His voice... John 10
4800 Belmont Park Terrace Nashville, TN 37215 www.stbs.net 615.377.4750 churchoffice@stbs.net St. Bartholomew s Children s Formation Carla Schober, Director of Family and Children cschober@stbs.net