Lessons from the Liturgical Calendar The Season of Advent On the First Sunday of Advent you may teach a lesson on the overall season of Advent. Key Concepts Advent traditions Advent themes Making our paths straight When We Celebrate Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, ending on Christmas Eve. Summary of Today s Story Advent is the first season of the Church year, because as Christians we begin with Jesus Christ. Advent means coming. During this season, we anticipate and prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ in our lives. In this lesson on the season of Advent you can focus on the meaning of the season, its symbols and traditions and the kinds of stories that are told and why they are important for us. The scripture readings focus on the expectation and fulfillment of God s promises to us. The themes include: the coming of Jesus Christ as a baby in Bethlehem the second coming of Christ at the end of time judgment on the nations and on individuals for their behavior towards others (Matthew 25)
2 Lessons from the liturgical calendar advent Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 preparation for Christ s coming, including repentance for our sins, helping other people and making our paths straight The Episcopal Thread As a liturgical church, the Episcopal Church follows the liturgical calendar closely in its worship, so Advent is a familiar and well-loved time. Often there are church-wide activities during Advent to prepare the congregation for Christmas. One church has an Advent event every year on the first Sunday in Advent, an intergenerational program of service and craft-making using Advent themes of joy, peace, love and hope. In another church, each family makes an Advent wreath to take home. In another church, members make Advent candles. Many churches will offer an Advent Festival of Lessons and Music, often as an evening service. Guidelines for this service can be found in the Book of Occasional Services (NY: Church Publishing, 2004, p. 31). Gathering Check-In Invite group members to sit comfortably, giving them an opportunity to visit with each other, establish friendships and build community. Relationships are an important dimension of Christian formation, so a few minutes of visiting will enrich their spiritual development. This is also the perfect time to check in with your group members by asking them to share how they are feeling at the time or what kind of a week they had. Despite the cultural tendency to begin celebrating Christmas right after Thanksgiving, the Episcopal Church is careful to keep the season of Advent from merging into Christmas. Advent hymns, not Christmas carols, are sung. Scripture readings prepare us for the birth of Christ, but wait until Christmas to tell the story of the nativity. It is a time of expectation and anticipation, not yet celebration. Christmas will come soon enough.
3 Lessons from the liturgical calendar advent Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 Prayer Note: Today s prayer calls for trying something different to give more weight to the start of the season of Advent. Materials: small table with cloth to cover it taper candle or pillar candle matches cross CD player or computer with Internet connection and sound. copy of the song Gabriel s Oboe, played by YoYo Ma (can be played directly from You Tube at no cost or purchased and downloaded from itunes or the Amazon MP3 store) After all the group members have a few minutes of fellowship time, gather them together for a simple opening prayer. Ask one of the members to light the candle(s) while saying these words from Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Explain that you are inviting the light of God to be with all of you. (You might consider posting that reading in the meeting room). Telling the Story Set the scene: If possible, have an Advent wreath on display for all to see. Tell the group about the season of Advent, beginning with the meaning of Advent and its focus in our spiritual life. Explain how the stories of this season prepare us for the coming of Christ. (The stories themselves are covered in the lessons from the Bible.) You ll find information on the season and its stories in the Overview on Advent, also downloadable. Be sure to include mention of: the change in the liturgical color the change in mood to one of anticipation and expectation the appearance and meaning of the Advent wreath and Advent candle the talk of the coming of Jesus Take a few minutes to talk about how the season of Christmas is often rushed in society, especially in ads and in stores. Invite participants to share their sense of Advent, with its mood of expectation and preparation, and ask how they might be preparing for the coming of Christ and Christmas. Ask the group members to sit quietly, relax and close their eyes. Play the song Gabriel s Oboe quietly, and, while members listen, ask them to think about the season of Advent, what it means and what they are anticipating. When the song ends, wait for a few seconds, and end with by saying in unison: Amen.
4 Lessons from the liturgical calendar advent Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 Activities: Arts, Crafts, Games, Drama, etc. Select one or more activities to supplement and enhance today s story. For each lesson, there are five suggested activities, one from each of the REACT categories. For a detailed explanation of REACT, see page 10 of the Introduction. All activities are meant to reinforce the concepts that were central to the day s lesson. Activities for This Week s Session Additional activity ideas can be found on pages 2-6 in the Appendix where we ve provided suggestions and directions for a variety of general activities (craft recipes, music, drama) that can be adapted to any lesson. Also included are outreach and service projects that can be done at any time. You might also have the group make gifts for others, such as your church homebound, or for an outreach agency as a way of sharing the spirit of Advent.
5 Lessons from the liturgical calendar advent Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 Weaving Our Faith Lesson Box Materials: 1 3" x 5" index card for the day s scribe pen or pencil a file box in which to store the cards Ask for a volunteer or assign a student to act as class scribe. Then, ask the group to articulate the most important lesson gleaned from the day s reading. As a prompt, you might ask: What is the season of Advent really about? Once the group has agreed on its wording, ask the scribe to write the lesson on the card, date it and file it in the box. By the end of the year, you will have a wonderful and thorough summation of the lessons covered in the participants own words. Closing Prayer Before the group leaves, say a closing prayer to send them into the church worship service or back to their homes with God s love and blessing. The prayer can be very simple, or it can be a prayer that you and the group make up on the spot. Today s prayer is a poem about anticipation: Dear loving God: Now in Advent we wait And take time to pray. We anticipate with hope, And think of the day When we celebrate together The baby Jesus birth, When joy fills the hearts Of all people on earth. Amen.
GOOD-DEED-A-DAY ADVENT CALENDARS Group members make Good Deed calendars for the season of Advent. Materials: computer with printer card stock, assorted colors fine point pens, assorted colors stickers, glue, glitter, stencils, etc. for embellishing calendars optional: adhesive stars Preparation: If you wish, you may print out calendars for each of the members of your group. It s a good idea to print extras! Click on http://calendarlabs.com/calendars/free-custom-calendar.php or http://www.eprintablecalendars. com/ for making and printing calendars very quickly. Directions: 1. Before beginning this activity, ask group members if they know what Advent calendars are. How do these calendars contribute to the anticipation of the season? 2. Explain that group members will be designing their own personal Good-Deed-a-Day calendars in which they write good deeds they can easily and willingly accomplish over the course of Advent. 3. If you wish, you may want to take some time to brainstorm some good deeds with the group. Some examples might include: helping a friend saying thank you to mom or dad complimenting a friend or family member complimenting a stranger saying a prayer 4. Group members may then write in a deed a day onto their calendars and decorate them as they see fit. 5. Instruct participants to post their calendars at home and check off or place a star on each accomplished deed. 6 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 ACTIVITY
READERS THEATER FOR YOUNG CHILDREN Group members will read the book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson (NY: HarperTrophy, 1988) to younger children in the church. Note: This activity may take 2-3 sessions. Materials: multiple copies of the book optional: basic costume pieces (robes, sandals, rope belts, strips of cloth, etc.) Preparation: First, meet with your group to decide how they want to present this story: in readers theater format (where they all sit on stage and take turns reading the story dramatically) with a few readers and a few actors dramatizing the story (without speaking) as it is read as a traditional chapter-by-chapter reading Arrange a date for gathering all of the children together for the reading. Use one session for reading the story with the group. Have them decide who will read which parts and, if applicable, who will act. Ask for a volunteer to serve as the emcee/announcer for the event. He/she might want to write down a few notes before the presentation. Directions: 1. Before the reading, the announcer asks the younger children what important event is coming soon. How do they feel about it? What are they anxious for? 2. Read the story. 3. After the story is read, invite the children to discuss what they liked about it. 7 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 ACTIVITY continued
ADVENT WREATHS Group members make Advent wreaths use in their homes. Materials: 1 pink candle, 12" 3 purple candles, 12" optional: white pillar candle (for Christ candle for the center of the ring) circular craft-foam rings (at least 10" in diameter) or 4 or 5 candle holders florist or other sturdy wire wire cutters fresh pine, fir, cedar or spruce boughs optional: holly, pine cones, red berries, etc. for embellishments clippers (for tree boughs) optional: hot glue gun and glue sticks copies of the Advent Wreath Instructions (p. 9), 1 per participant Preparation: It would be best to engage some volunteers the day before the group meets to gather the tree boughs. If time permits, cut them into manageable sizes. Craft-foam rings can be purchased at any craft store or in larger department stores. Directions: 1. Space the candles evenly so that one is standing in each quarter of the circle. Make a hole in which to stand each candle securely. Put the candles aside. 2. Cut pieces of boughs so that they can easily be manipulated and are not too big for the form. 3. Cut pieces of wire (about 6" in length) and wrap around the end of the bough; keep about 2" of the wire unwound. 4. Secure the bough to the form by pressing the wire into the craft foam. 5. Continue until the entire form is covered with branches. Locate the holes for the candles, and place the candles carefully. 6. Add sprigs of holly, or some pinecones and berries for decoration. Secure with hot glue. 7. The white candle will go in the center of the ring on Christmas Eve. 8 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 CRAFT
ADVENT WREATH INSTRUCTIONS To use the Advent wreath at home, gather with your family on each of the four Sunday s of the season. Light a candle on each Sunday and say the prayer suggested below: Day Color Theme Reading 1st Sunday Purple (first) Hope Isaiah 60:2-3 2nd Sunday Purple (second) Love Mark 1:1-3 3rd Sunday Pink Mary/Joy Luke 1:46-48 4th Sunday Purple (third) Peace Isaiah 9:6 Christmas Day White Christmas Isaiah 9:1-7 Important Notes: Remember to keep the wreath moist so it stays fresh. Never leave burning candles unattended. 9 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 CRAFT CONTINUED
Advent Prayer Pyramid Group members make a prayer tent with paper candles and decorate it. It may be used as a centerpiece at home to mark each week of Advent leading to Christmas. Materials: copies of the Pyramid Pattern (p. 11), 1 per participant copies of the Pyramid Prayers for Advent (p. 12), 1 per participant 3 purple candles and 1 pink candle per person markers scissors glue Preparation: Make a copy of the Pyramid Pattern (preferably on card stock or other heavy paper) and the prayers for each group member. Directions: 1. Cut out the pyramid shape. 2. Fold at the dashed lines; then glue the tabs as instructed to make the pyramid shape. 3. Cut out the prayers. Glue one prayer to each side of the pyramid. Optional: Group members may choose to write their own prayers. Use the same size paper and follow the same instructions for attaching the prayers to the pyramid. Take the pyramid and candles home. On each Sunday in Advent, light a candle and recite the appropriate prayer with your family. On each successive Sunday, light the each candle in order before reciting the prayer. 10 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 CRAFT
PYRAMID PATTERN 11 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 CRAFT CONTINUED
PYRAMID prayers For Advent I Advent God of Hope, Help me wait in hope for the coming of our Savior. Amen. 2 Advent O God of Peace, Help me wait patiently for Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen. 3 Advent Faithful, loving God, Give me the faith to wait for Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. 4 Advent God of all joy, You give us joy for the birth of Holy Jesus, Your Son, the Son of God. Amen. 12 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 CRAFT CONTINUED
E ADVENT E N T Group members help in the planning of an Advent Event such as a breakfast for their church. Materials: card stock, assorted colors large markers masking tape or poster putty Preparation: Work with the rector and the church s hospitality or events group to plan a simple breakfast on the 1st or 2nd Sunday of Advent. You may choose to serve something as easy as bagels and cream cheese and drinks. Or, if the group desires, you may decide to plan and serve a more involved meal. Directions: 1. Explain that the purpose of the breakfast is to get the entire congregation in the Advent mood of anticipation. 2. Write each of the following words or phrases on the card stock in large letters (one word/phrase per sheet): joy peace love hope anticipation The advent of I m anxious for I will make my path straight by 3. Post the cards around the room where the meal will be served. 13 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 ACTIVITY
4. As a blessing before the meal, you may lead the group in a traditional blessing, ask the rector to lead you in prayer, or ask one of your group members to read the following: Dear Lord, In the spirit of Advent, We pray that all who are discouraged may be given the gift of hope, That all who are distressed may know the gift of peace, That all who are lost may find the path to their faith, And that those who are saddened may revel in the joy of your coming. Amen. 5. As the breakfast proceeds, use the cards to spark discussion or stories in the room. 14 LessonS FROM THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT Weaving Our Faith, YEAR 1 ACTIVITY