Week 1 Stay Awake and Watch. Week 2 Prepare a Way for the Lord. Week 3 Gaudete Sunday Rejoice! Week 4 Mary Will Have a Child

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1 The word ADVENT (from the Latin word Adventus which signifies a coming), is given, in the Latin Church, to that period of the year during which we, the Church, prepare for the celebration of the Feast of Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Since the tenth century the First Sunday of Advent has always marked the beginning of the Church s year in the Catholic Church. (In the Orthodox Church the season begins earlier in November). The beginning of Advent always follows the Feast of Christ the King, so this year (Year A) the First Sunday of Advent falls on 27 th November. It is a preparation time. It looks forward to the annual celebration of the birth of Jesus, both the historical event and the saving event of the coming of God in flesh the Incarnation. It looks, also, to the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of time. The earliest suggestion of a period of preparation for the birth of Jesus was towards the end of the 5 th Century when St Perpetuus decreed a fast three times a week from the feast of St Martin, 11 th November, until Christmas. It became a period of penance and fasting of 43 days, not unlike Lent, although somewhat less strict. It was commonly called St Martin s Lent. By the tenth century this period of time became the four Sundays, as we have now, and the rules of fasting were relaxed. COLOURS During Advent we use the liturgical colours of purple or violet, symbolic of penitence and rose (on the Third Sunday), symbolic of Christmas joy. THEMES The overall theme of Advent blends together a penitential spirit, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event. Week 1 Stay Awake and Watch Week 2 Prepare a Way for the Lord Week 3 Gaudete Sunday Rejoice! Week 4 Mary Will Have a Child 1

2 SOME IDEAS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN S LITURGY OF THE WORD AND FAMILIES AT HOME (Each idea is on a separate page for ease of photocopying) Symbols have developed over the years to help us to understand and celebrate the seasons of Advent. AN ADVENT WREATH The Advent wreath is one of our most popular Advent traditions. Its origin is in pre-christian Germany and Scandinavia where the people gathered to celebrate the return of the sun after the winter solstice. The circular wreath made of evergreens with four candles interspersed represented the circle of the year and the life that endures through the winter. As the days grew longer, people lit candles to offer thanks to the "sun god" for the light. For us, the lighting of the Advent candles represents the promise of the coming of Jesus, the light of the world. The exact meaning given to the various aspects of the wreath is not as important as the story to which it invites us to listen, and participate. The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolise the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. The colours of the candles vary with different traditions, but there are usually three purple candles, corresponding to the sanctuary colours of Advent, and one pink or rose candle. One of the purple candles is lighted the first Sunday of Advent, accompanied by a prayer. On subsequent Sundays, previous candles are relit with an additional one also lit. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent. The light of the candles itself becomes an important symbol of the season. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God's grace to others (Isaiah 42:6). The progression in the lighting of the candles symbolises the various aspects of our waiting experience. As the candles are lit over the four week period, it also symbolises the darkness of fear and hopelessness receding and the shadows of sin falling away as more and more light is shed into the world. The flame of each new candle reminds us that something is happening, and that more is yet to come. Finally, the light that has come into the world is plainly visible as the Christ candle is lit at Christmas, and we rejoice over the fact that the promise of long ago has been realised. 2

3 The first candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope (or in some traditions, Prophecy). This draws attention to the anticipation of the coming of a Messiah that weaves its way like a golden thread through Old Testament history. As God s people were abused by power hungry kings, led astray by selfcentred prophets, and lulled into apathy by half-hearted religious leaders, there arose a longing among some for God to raise up a new king who could show them how to be God s people. They yearned for a return of God s dynamic presence in their midst. And so, God revealed to some of the prophets that indeed He would not leave His people without a true Shepherd. While they expected a new earthly king, their expectations fell far short of God s revelation of Himself in Christ. And yet, the world is not yet fully redeemed. So, we again with expectation, with hope, await God s new work in history, the Second Advent, in which He will again reveal Himself to the world. And we understand in a profound sense that the best, the highest of our expectations will fall far short of what our Lord s Second Advent will reveal! The third candle for the Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally Pink or Rose, and symbolises Joy at the Advent of the Christ. Sometimes the colours of the sanctuary and vestments are also changed to Rose for this Sunday. The centre candle is white and is called the Christ Candle. It is traditionally lighted on Christmas Eve or Day. The central location of the Christ Candle reminds us that the incarnation is the heart of the season, giving light to the world. To make an Advent wreath for use with the Liturgy of the Word for Children, or to encourage families to use at home, begin with a Styrofoam or Oasis circle, available at craft shops or florists, and cut four evenly spaced holes into which you will place the four candles. Traditionally there are three purple candles and one rose candle (for the third Sunday). Purple reminds us to turn our hearts toward God; rose is a colour of joy. Place fresh evergreen branches over the Styrofoam or Oasis. Replace them when they dry out in order to preserve the symbolism of the vitality of God's love. Encourage children to participate as they are able, by gathering branches, placing the candles and so on. 3

4 A JESSE TREE The 11th chapter of Isaiah describes the ideal king in the line of Israel s great king, David. The first verse of that chapter says, A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of this root. Jesse was King David s father. The image of a branch growing out of the roots of Jesse points to a new king in David s line. Christians know that this is fulfilled in Jesus, the King of Kings, who is a descendent of Jesse. One tradition is to decorate a tree branch with symbols that remember other important persons from the Old Testament. The symbols on the "Jesse Tree" remind us that our belief grows out of deep roots of thousands of years of ancestors in the faith. One way to create a Jesse Tree is to place a suitable tree branch in a large tin can (such as a coffee can) and anchor it with rocks. Then create the symbols on construction paper. Punch a hole in the paper ornament with a hole punch. Then attach the ornament to the tree branch with string. Symbols for the Jesse Tree draw from images in the Old Testament. Some possible symbols and their scripture references are on the following pages. There are six pages of Jesse Tree ornaments for you to use. Each page contains four of designs for children to colour and decorate with glitter or cottonwool balls glued to the ornament. Photocopy the designs onto card or stick the paper designs on cardboard Cut each page into four ornaments and you'll have patterns for two-dozen Jesse Tree ornaments. The following list gives 25 suggestions for symbols to use in decorating a Jesse Tree along with the scripture references for the symbol. These 25 symbols would allow a new ornament to be added to the tree each day in December leading up to Christmas. You may choose only to use some of the more familiar symbols if you wish PERSON SYMBOL SCRIPTURE PASSAGE Adam Male figure Genesis 2:7 Eve Female figure Genesis 2:21-23 Noah Rainbow Genesis 9:11-17 Abraham Tree Genesis 18:1 Sarah Tent Genesis 18:9-14 Isaac Ram Genesis 22:13-14 Rebecca Camel Genesis 24:63-67 Jacob Ladder Genesis 28:10-17 Rachel Shepherd s crook Genesis 29:9-12 Joseph Colourful coat Genesis 37:3 Moses Burning bush Exodus 3:1-6 Miriam Music notes Exodus 15:20-21 Deborah Palm tree Judges 4:4-5 4

5 Samuel Lamp 1 Samuel 3:1-3 Ruth Straw Ruth 2:1-9 Jesse Branch Isaiah 11:1 David Harps 1 Samuel 16:17-18 Solomom Columns 1 Kings 5:2-5 Hezekiah Tablets of the Law 2 Kings 18:1-6 Josiah Book 2 Kings 23:1-3 Isaiah Throne Isaiah 6:1 Elizabeth Dove Luke 1:39-45 John the Baptist River Matthew 3:1-6 Mary Angel Luke 1:26-35 Jesus Manger Luke 2:1-7 5

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