Category Archives: preparing for the coming of Christ

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A Colossal Set of Resources for Advent

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Advent is the (roughly) 4 week season before Christmas when Catholic and other Christians commemorate the first coming of Christ and anticipate his second coming.  The first Sunday of Advent can fall on any date between (and including) November 27 and December 3 of each year. This year Advent begins on December 2nd.  These are the start dates for the next four years:
2013: December 1; 2014:  November 30; 2015: November 29; and 2016:  November 27

Liturgical Facts on Advent:
Liturgical Color(s): Violet (optional: Rose for 3rd Advent)

Type of Holiday: Season; Fast

Time of Year: Roughly 4 weeks before Christmas

Duration: 4 Sundays and their weeks ending at Christmas Eve

Celebrates/Symbolizes: Jesus’ first and second comings

Alternate Names: None

Scriptural References: Isaiah 2:1-5,7:10-14, Jeremiah 33:14-16, Zephaniah 3:14-18, Micah 5:2-5a, Matthew 24:37-44, Romans 13:11-14

Catholic Encyclopedia: Advent


Awesome Ideas Around the Web for Advent



Jesse Trees & Ornaments:

Calendars/Chains:

Wreaths:

Nativities:
Educational:

Books & Book Baskets:

Movies:
(THANK YOU FRIENDS:  I want to thank all of you on our Facebook page that contributed to this list of Advent/Christmas movies):  (shout outs for those who suggested these)
General Posts:
Prayers:


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Advent Wreath Prayers Fourth Sunday

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The 4th Week of Advent

The head of household or leader says the following prayer.

Lord, hurry and come to us. May your light shine in our lives, so that we may be freed from sin. Protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for your coming as our savior: For the kingdom, the power and glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

The father (or grandfather or head of household) lights all four candles; they remain lit during the meal.

Suggested reading: Luke 1: 39-45

Mary Visits Elizabeth

LUKE 1: 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Thanks be to God.

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A Hymn and a Prayer: Veni, Veni Emmanuel

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One of my favorite hymns during this time of the Liturgical year is Veni, Veni Emmanuel. The original Latin hymn was taken from Psalteriolum Cantionum, Colgne, 1710. If you are not familiar with the lyrics in Latin, here they are:

Veni, Veni Emmanuel! 
Captivum solve Israel! 
Qui gemit in exsilio, 
Privatus Dei Filio. 
[Refrain:] 
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel 
Nascetur pro te, Israel. 
Veni, O Jesse virgula, 
Ex hostis tuos ungula, 
De specu tuos tartari 
Educ et antro barathri. 
[Refrain] 
Veni, Veni O Oriens! 
Solare nos adveniens, 
Noctis depelle nebulas, 
Dirasque noctis tenebras. 
[Refrain] 
Veni, Clavis Davidica, 
Regna reclude caelica, 
Fac iter tutum superum, 
Et claude vias inferum. 
[Refrain] 
Veni, Veni Adonai! 
Qui populo in Sinai 
Legem dedisti vertice, 
In Majestate gloriae. 
[Refrain] 
Veni, O Sapientia, 
Quae hic disponis omnia, 
Veni, viam prudentiae 
Ut doceas et gloriae. 
[Refrain] 
Veni, Veni, Rex gentium, 
Veni, Redemptor omnium, 
Ut salvas tuos famulos 
Peccati sibi conscios. 
[Refrain] 
Saint’s Faith Blog

Notice that this hymn contains the O Antiphons which are sung or recited at Vespers of the last seven days in Advent.  Each Antiphon is the name of Christ which are mentioned in Sacred Scriptures as Messianic Prophecies of the Lord Jesus Christ.. Therefore, “O Come Emmanuel” is a lyrical paraphrase of these antiphons.

The importance of “O Antiphons” is twofold:

  • Each one highlights a title for the Messiah and 
  • each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. 

Let’s now look at each antiphon with just a sample of Isaiah’s related prophecies. Then thre’s another interesting tid-bit, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose, see the first letters of the titles taken backwards form a Latin acrostic of “Ero Cras” (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia) which translates to “Tomorrow, I will come”, mirroring the theme of the antiphons.

Each one is used on a different day during the last week of Advent as we approach the Nativity of our Lord and Savior.  These are:

  • December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom) 
  • December 18: O Adonai (O Lord) 
  • December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) 
  • December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David) 
  • December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring) 
  • December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations) 
  • December 23: O Emmanuel (O God is with Us)
ORIGINS:
According to Fr. William Saunders:

“The exact origin of the “O Antiphons” is not known. Boethius (c. 480-524) made a slight reference to them, thereby suggesting their presence at that time. At the Benedictine abbey of Fleury (now Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire), these antiphons were recited by the abbot and other abbey leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they are in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome. The usage of the “O Antiphons” was so prevalent in monasteries that the phrases, “Keep your O” and “The Great O Antiphons” were common parlance. One may thereby conclude that in some fashion the “O Antiphons” have been part of our liturgical tradition since the very early Church.”  (Source:  Catholic Education Resource Center)



Here is the English translation {translated by John M. Neale (1818-1886)}:

December 17, O Wisdom 
O Come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain: 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
December 18, O Lord and Ruler
O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might:
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In Ancient times did give the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Refrain
December 19, O Root of Jesse
O Come, thou rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust Thy mighty power to save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Refrain
December 20, O Key of David
O Come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high,
That we no more have cause to sigh.
Refrain
December 21, O Dawn of the East
O Come, Thou Dayspring from on High
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadow put to flight.
Refrain
December 22, O King of the Gentiles
O Come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid every strife and quarrel cease
And fill the world with heaven’s peace.
Refrain
December 23, O Emmanuel
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain




Readings/Meditations:

O Sapientia (December 17) O Wisdom (Eccl 24: 5), you came forth from the mouth of the Most High (Sir 24: 30), and reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly (Wis 8: 1). Come, and teach us the way of prudence (Isa 40: 14).
O Adonai (December 18) O Adonai or O Lord and Ruler(Exod 6: 13) and Ruler of the house of Israel (Matt 2: 6), you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush (Exod 3: 2), and on Mount Sinai gave him your Law (Exod 20). Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us (Jer 32: 21).
O Radix Jesse (December 19) O Root of Jesse, you stand for the ensign of all mankind (Isa 11: 10); before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse (Isa 52: 15). Come, save us, and do not delay (Hab 2: 3).
O Clavis David (December 20) O Key of David (Apoc 3: 7) Scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens (Isa 22: 22). Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10).
O Oriens (December 21) O Rising Dawn (Zac 6: 12), Radiance of the Light eternal (Hab 3: 4) and Sun of Justice (Mal 3: 20); Come, enlighten those who sit in darkness & the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10; Lk 1: 78).
O Rex Gentium (December 22) O King of the Gentiles(Hag 2: 8), Desired of all, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one (Eph 2: 20). Come, and save poor man whom you fashion out of clay (Gen 2: 7).
O Emmanuel (December 23) O Emmanuel (Isa 7: 14; 8: 8), our King and Lawgiver (Gen 49:10; cf. Ezek 21: 32), the Expected of the nations and their Savior (Isa 33: 22): Come, and save us, O Lord our God.
Activity Source: Original Text (JGM) by Jennifer Gregory Miller, © Copyright 2003-2009 by Jennifer Gregory Miller  {Source: Catholic Culture}



FOR OUR FAMILIES:
I love the idea of reviving the old monastic custom of doing something special on each day before Christmas which is another way to celebrate the “O Antiphons” in the family atmosphere. Here’s a list of blogs or websites with crafts for the O’ Antiphons for some ideas:

O Night Divine


In the Heart of My Home


Waltzing Matilda
Just Another Day in Paradise
Under Her Starry Mantle


Under Her Starry Mantle
By Sun and Candle Light

O Antiphon House
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, St. Joseph, pray for us!
Our best friends, our guardian angels, pray for us!

Pax Christi,
Erika
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God, Christmas, Prayer and Renewal {Guest Post}

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Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.
(Luke 2:14)
Christmas

Christmas is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Church calendar.  It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer.  Christmas is the culmination of the Incarnation of God, which is celebrated on March 25th.  God became Man.

This was made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, and by Mary, our Lady, who consented to be the instrument for the birth of Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
Mary’s immaculate conception, that is, her absence of original sin, made it possible for God, who hates sin, to dwell in her womb.   It became a holy sanctuary from which Christ could burst out to fill the world with His graces.  This story of Christmas must include the role of Joseph for his devotion as a caretaker and protector of both Jesus and Mary. 
                                                             
Christmas is for all, because its graces fall on all men of good will.  It is meaningfully connected to the blessed Easter season, which reflects upon the murder of God, that is, His Holy Sacrifice of the Cross and His resurrection.  This opened the gates of Heaven for the many.
Christmas Blues
Unfortunately, many Christians spend much of their time before and during Christmas struggling with people who would like to eliminate Christmas and Christianity from American culture.  The threats are many:
  • Public and private institutions that coerce their people into using “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”, thus gradually making the population forget the meaning of Christmas which, by the way, is a federal holy day.
  • Governments that refuse to have Nativity scenes in public property, even though they allow the placement of symbols of other religions although the majority of the population is Christian.
  • The persecution of Christians worldwide making them the most persecuted religious group in the world.
  • The unwillingness of teachers and professors to allow their students to write homework and papers on the topic of Jesus.
  • The frequent production of Hollywood movies with anti-Christian content, which appear usually around Christmas time.
  • The intentional debasement of Christmas into a commercial enterprise.
Therefore, Christians are justified in fighting during Christmas, all these anti-Christian elements culturally, economically, legally, and politically.  And yet, they should utilize Christmas primarily to purify themselves and enter into greater communion with God. 
It is only through these acts of purification and communion with God that the graces needed to improve America can be acquired. Christians cannot allow their enemies to spoil their Christmas and make them bitter.
God and A.C.T.S.
The season of Advent which precedes the Christmas Season seeks to help us purify ourselves through a process of repentance and prayer as we await Christ the Lord. Advent makes us appreciate Christmas and allows to better seek God.
According to Jesus, the greatest commandment is to love God.  Therefore, it is essential that we communicate with Him through the four ways which could be referred to as A.C.T.S.  It was St. Thomas Aquinas who taught us that there are at least four ways to communicate with God:
  • Adoration.  He is to be worshipped because God is our Creator, our Redeemer and our Comforter.  God created us for Himself.  He is the only one worthy of adoration.

  • Contrition.  We need to recognize our faults and sins and atone for them and beg for forgiveness.  God is full of mercy, even for the worst sinner who truly repents.

  • Thanksgiving.  God is responsible for our lives, our power to reason, our power to choose, our power to love, and our power to procreate, as well as responsible for all the resources which allow our powers to work.  We need to thank Him for He is the source of all that exists.
  • Supplication.  God made the world good, but the world as it exists now is also full of evil and is often a “valley of tears”. So we are wise in asking for His support and mercy.

These are four ways through which we can communicate with God.  Christmas is a wonderful time to seek Him in Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.  These ways will bring us closer to Him and renew us so we can love our neighbors and ourselves as Jesus loved us.
Praying With the Hands
Ironically, while to love God is the greatest commandment, God will not listen to us if we have not followed his commandments, which include loving our neighbors as ourselves.  Therefore, this Christmas not only should we approach God, but we should pray for each other as suggested by the Epistle of James (5:13-16).
However, sometimes we get so distracted and tired, that we do not know for whom to pray.
A simple method is to put the hands together, palm to palm, with the two thumbs closer to the body and the two little fingers farther away. Each set of fingers will remind us of people worthy of prayer:
  • The thumbs should remind us to pray first for those closer to our hearts, that is, those we love.
  • The index fingers should remind us to pray next for those who hate us.
  • The middle fingers should remind us to pray for our leaders, including the Pope and the bishops, so that they make decisions which are wise and loving.
  • The ring fingers should remind us to pray for those who are alone, forgotten, and suffering, even in Purgatory.
  • The little fingers should remind us to pray for ourselves.
The Church is full of saints and of people of great spirituality who can teach us how to pray.  Unlike some religions which emphasize many techniques and postures to pray or meditate, for Christians the key ingredient for good prayer, whether verbal, meditative or contemplative, is to be full of love for God and for others.
Conclusion
Christmas is a celebration of the coming of the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus.  Many of the things that happen to us during this wonderful season have nothing to do with Jesus himself.
However, it is never too late to disengage during Christmas from the “ways of the world”, at least temporarily, so that we can love God, our neighbors and ourselves, and help God spread His peace to all men of good will.  This will bring about the greatest personal renewal and social regeneration.
Merry Christmas!



About the Guest Blogger

Dr.Germán Muñoz was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on July 13, 1950. He attended the Jesuit Colegio Dolores. Upon emigrating to the United States, he studied at the Salesian orphanage Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa, Florida, and at the Belen Jesuit Preparatory High School in Miami, Florida. Dr. Muñoz earned a B.S. in Psychology at the Jesuit Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, a Masters of Arts in International Relations, and a Doctorate in Political History at the University of Miami, Coral Gables in May 1981.
          He is the producer of the award-winning Social Science Lecture Series, of the Faculty Forum and of The Public Affairs Forum. He is the author of Background Lessons on Global Affairs (1997), of The Social Environment: A Primer on World Civics, 11th Edition, 2008, and International Relations: a Primer on Global Affairs (2004).
          Dr. Germán Muñoz is the recipient of the following awards: “John Barret Prize for Best Dissertation on Hispanic and Latin American Affairs,”, “Excellence in Curriculum and Instruction Award,” 1987, by the Florida Association of Community Colleges, “The Times Teaching Excellence Award,” 1990, by the National-American Association of Community Colleges, “The Reverend Glen C. James Endowed Teaching Chair,” 1992-1994, “The Award for Outstanding Community College Chairs Who Encourage Teaching Excellence,” 1993, by the National Community College Academy, “The David Pierce Department Chair Quality Leadership Award,” 1995, “The National Initiative for Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness,” by North Carolina State University, “The First Union Endowed Teaching Chair,” 1996-1998,  “The Excellence in the Social Sciences Award 1854-2004”, by Belen Jesuit Preparatory in 2004, The Collinfontanum Award for Professional Achievement 1831-2006, by Spring Hill College in 2006.
            Dr. Germàn Muñoz has served in the following boards: St. Kevin’s Catholic School Advisory Board; Miami Archbishop John C. Favalora’s Board of Catholic Education; the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., and the Socio-Economic Development Council of Miami Dade County.
              Dr. German Muñoz worked at Miami Dade College, the largest college in the United States, from August 1976 through August 2011. He was the Chairperson of the Department of Social Sciences from 1983-2011. Dr. Muñoz retired on August 2011 due to ALS. The College awarded him Professor Emeritus status and has created the Dr. German Muñoz endowed teaching chair.


Contact Dr. Muñoz:  Via E-Mail  or on the Web  or co-author  Carlos H. Olaechea, P.T., D.P.T., N.C.S. via E-Mail.
Reposted with permission given to Raising {& Teaching} Little Saints.
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Advent Poem by St. John of the Cross:

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Advent Poem by St. John of the Cross:
If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the road
pregnant with the holy, and say,
“I need shelter for the night,
please take me inside your heart, my time is so close.”
Then, under the roof of your soul,
you will witness the sublime intimacy,
the divine, the Christ, taking birth forever,
as she grasps your hand for help,
for each of us is the midwife of God, each of us.
Yes there, under the dome of your being
does creation come into existence eternally,
through your womb, dear pilgrim – the sacred womb of your soul,
as God grasps our arms for help:
for each of us is his beloved servant, never far.
If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the street
pregnant with Light and sing.
Blessings to you all on the Feast of San Juan de la Cruz
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Advent Wreath Prayers Third Sunday

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The 3rd Week of Advent

The head of household or leader says the following prayer.

Lord, we ask you to penetrate the darkness of our minds so that, filled with your brightness, we may rejoice in your coming as we say: Blessed be God for ever. Amen.

The mother (or grandmother) lights the previous candles and the rose candle; they remain lit during the meal. The same candles are burned each day of the 3rd week.

Suggested reading: Luke 3: 10-18

LUKE 3: 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Thanks be to God.

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Advent Wreath Prayers Second Sunday

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The 2nd Week of Advent

The head of household or leader says the following prayer.

Father, help us to prepare the way of Jesus, the Light of the world. May we who believe he will come again always serve you. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Amen.

The eldest child then lights the first candle and a candle next to it; they remain lit during the meal. The same candles are burned each day of the 2nd week.

Suggested reading: Luke 3: 1-6

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

LUKE 3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;  6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ “

Thanks be to God.

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New Year – New {Blog} Look

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We have decided to change the “look” of the blog to go with the Liturgical Season!  So we are dressed in purple and rose for Advent as our family prepares for the birth of our Savior.

Blessings to you all,
Mama Erika (and DH who did all the technical work)

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Veni Emmanuel – Happy New Year!

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Today is a historical day in our Holy Mother Church, it is the first day of Advent and the first day of the Liturgical year. It is also the first day every parish will be using the “new” Missal (English speaking parishes that is). This is my favorite season of all, it is the time when we look in anticipation forward to the birth of the Lord of Lords and King of King on Christmas. The weather is cooler is some parts of the world and it makes the home come to life! I love the lit fireplaces, and when outdoors the smell of the wood burning as the cool air gently caress your face. It is a time when we see family more and our homes are full of warmth and a hospitable nature. For me, this time is full of new beginnings, not just liturgically but also for each person spiritually. For me, this is when I make resolutions for the new year, a time to look back, analyze how we’ve spent our days this past year and an opportunity to start over! Isn’t that lovely?

Our little family wants to first focus on preparing for the birth of Christ by remembering his past and heritage by using a Jesse tree. Also, by meditating on his coming by reading the daily scriptures and attending Mass as often as possible to receive Him the the Holy Eucharist. Jesus is the King of King and the judge of all, preparing for his birth will also prepare our homes and hearts for His future coming at the end of time.

So how exactly will we be doing this?
1. Refraining from participating in what we call, the “Christmas frenzy” which really isn’t very Christ-like at all. (if you missed the news of all the misshaps on “black Friday” – don’t Google them, take my word for it, they were NOT how Christ would want us to act in preparation for His birth).

2. Decorating our homes in purple and rose ONLY! Putting out our Advent wreaths and making crafts with the children to decorate our mantle turn Family Altar. On our front window of our house we put Advent Candles on the window each Sunday. We get lots of questions from the neighbors (another little way to evangelize).

3. We do not put any Christmas decorations up until we get closer or even one year we did it on Christmas Eve after dinner, half of us spent the day cooking the other half decorating. My DH and I share a birthday on the 20th, so that is the day (as a tradition in our family) that we set out to hunt for a Christmas tree. No we don’t panic that we can’t find one but instead know that the one we will find is the one Christ would love.

4. This is our first year using the Jesse tree and we will be doing this every day of the Advent Season. This will help our family recall the entire history behind the coming of Christ.

There are so many wonderful ways to prepare for Advent, every family has his own. If you’ve never observed this beautiful season, my family and I invite you to try at least one thing new this year and you will receive Baby Jesus with a prepared and humble heart.

Happy Advent Everyone!

Blessings,
Mama Erika

PS: if you blogged about a neat Advent idea, don’t forget to link up with us.

PSS: if you are still looking for ideas for your kids take a look at our little packet full of fun and educational Advent activities for little hands.

Oh I almost forgot, we are also participating in Holy Heroes’s Advent Adventures:
Holy Heroes
This blog post is linked up at:
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