DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

"A VOICE CRIES OUT: IN THE DESERT PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!" ~ Isaiah 40:3 ~ The Advent season is a time where we focus on preparation in the Church. Many of us decorate our homes and allow our environment to reflect the coming of Christmas. The Advent season focuses on preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord at Christmas. We take this time to reflect, to sit in silence with our Lord, to pray, and to seek out the sacrament of Reconciliation. Life in 2020 has been slower for most of us. Instead of having a long to-do list of places to be and things to do, we have been staying home, spending time with our families, and adjusting to a slower pace of life. This is the perfect time to invest in the season of Advent as a family. The slower pace of life lends itself to conversations, silent reflection, and spending time enjoying one another's company. Let us all seek to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus this Advent, instead of just prepareing our homes.

"Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God's own love and concern."

~St. Teresa of Calcutta~ DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

CHRISTMAS MANGER BLESSING The tradition of setting up a Christmas manager The leader prays with hands joined: scene can be attributed to St. Francis. The tradition dates back to 1223 when he built God of every nation and people, from the Nativity scene for Christmas Eve. If you set up a very beginning of creation you have made manger in your home, it is traditional to have a manifest your love: when our need for a parent say the blessing close to Christmas Eve! Savior was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. All make the sign of the cross as the leader says: To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; R/ Who made heaven and earth. may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus ,and raise our thoughts to him, who is One of those present or the leader reads a text God-with-us and Savior of all, and who of sacred Scripture, lives and reigns forever and ever Luke 2:1 (lines 1-8) R/ Amen. Reader: The Gospel of the Lord R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. —From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers

ADVENT SONG TO PRAY WITH

O Come O Come Emmanuel by for King and Country This is an amazing version of a classic Advent song! It focuses on preparation for the coming of Jesus, with an emphasis on rejoicing in our waiting, something that is always good to remember! Take some time to listen to it as a family through Advent.

"O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear" (O Come, O Come Emmanuel) DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

FAMILY SCRIPTURE ADVENT PRAYER REFLECTION Lord Jesus, Be Watchful! Master of both the light and the darkness, send Jesus said to his disciples: your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know Christmas. when the time will come. We who have so much to do and seek quiet It is like a man traveling abroad. spaces to hear your voice each day, He leaves home and places his servants in We who are anxious over many things look charge, each with his own work, forward to your coming among us. and orders the gatekeeper to be on the We who are blessed in so many ways long for watch. the compete joy of your kingdom. Watch, therefore; We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your you do not know when the Lord of the house presence. is coming, We are your people, walking in darkness, yet whether in the evening, or at midnight, seeking the light. or at cockcrow, or in the morning. To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus! May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. Amen. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

(Written by Henri JM Nouwen) ~Mark 13: 33-37~ REFLECTION QUESTIONS

For the Parents For the Kids The Gospel mentions those who are watching for This Gospel reading speaks of waiting and Jesus and those who are caught sleeping. Do you watching for something important to happen. relate to those who are asleep when Jesus When is a time that you experienced having comes, or those who are watching for Him? to wait for something important?

Advent is a time that allows us to reflect on Jesus' Why is waiting and preparing for things birth at Christmas, as well as His Second Coming. important? As the Scripture says, we do not know when the Lord is coming, but we are called to watch and What are some good ways that we can wait prepare. What are some daily ways that you can and prepare for the coming of Jesus with our prepare for the coming of the Lord this Advent family this Advent? season?

"Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel" (O Come O Come Emmanuel) DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

SAINT OF THE MONTH

St. Louis IX, King of France

Saint Louis is a good example of a ruler who was led by God first and foremost.

He became the King of France at age 12, when his father passed away. His mother helped him rule France until his was 22 years old and able to rule on his own.

It was very important to him to encourage the people of France to love God and live out that love in their daily lives.

He went on a Crusade to the Holy Land, bringing back an important relic, The Crown of Thorns. He had a chapel built in the center of Paris called Sainte-Chapelle, where people could come and see the Crown of Thorns.

He tried to love and serve God through the way he led the people of France and the way he raised his family. St. Louis and his wife Queen Marguerite when he was 19 years old, and together they had 11 children. It was especially important to him that he raise his oldest son to have strong Catholic values, as he would become the next king.

St. Louis' life came to an end when he went on a second Crusade later in his life, and died of sickness before he returned home. He is buried in the Cathedral of St. Denis in Paris.

St. Louis is a patron of the Third Order Franciscans, as well as the patron of St. Louis, Missouri. Leaders and parents also frequently call on his intercession as well.

His feast day is celebrated each year on August 25th DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

ADVENT WREATH

Directions Supplies 1) If you are using a wire hanger, uncoil the upper section, and form the wire into a loop, making four smaller loops equally spaced Round Candle Holder around the circle. This will be where the candles are placed. or Wire Hanger 2) Now wrap the evergreen garland around the wire holder and Evergreen Garland use the twine to secure the greenery to wire.

Twine 3) Place all four candles into the candle holders.

Three Purple Candles 4) Gather together and read this blessing prayer

One Pink Candle Blessing of the Advent Wreath

Lord our God, We Praise you for you Son, Jesus Christ: Week 1: Hope he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, he is the wisdom that teaches us and guides us, he is the savior of every nation.

Lord God, Week 2: Love let you blessing come upon us as we light 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.

Week 3: Joy Amen.

The first Sunday of Advent light the candles that correspond to that week, and say your family prayers around the Advent wreath.

Week 4: Peace DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

COLORING PAGE DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

ZOOM UPDATE

We will be hosting a Zoom Gathering for families utilizing our Fall Formation Resources on Sunday, December 20th at 1:00 pm!

This will be a time for families to share their experiences with the resources, connect with one another, ask questions, and pray together! We hope to see you there!

MEET WITH LEXIE

I am available to answer Faith Formation questions via phone, email, or Zoom! Contact me today to schedule a meeting or ask any questions you have!

Lexie Wasinger (Echo Apprentice) (503)244-1037 ext. 105 I [email protected] Monthly Trivia

Each month, we will have a monthly Catholic Trivia Question! Email us your child's name with their answers! All correct answers will be put in a drawing to win a monthly treat.

What season is at the beginning of the Liturgical Year?

A) Ordinary Time B) Christmas C) Advent D) Lent

"A voice cries out: in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord." ~Isaiah 40:3 ~ DECEMBER 2020 FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

Sources

Pg. 1 - Opening Letter and Page Footer Pg.5 - Patron Saint Candle Scripture: Instruction Manual: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/40 Written by Lexie Wasinger St. Teresa of Calcutta Quote: Inspired by The Catholic Catalogue "Making an https://catholic-link.org/quotes/mother-teresa- Advent Wreath" quotes-on-advent-how-to-live-the-season-well/ Pg. 6 - Advent Coloring Sheet Pg. 2 - Christmas Manger Blessing Coloring Sheet: catholicartworks.com https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and- makingmusicprayingtwice.com worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/advent

Pg. 2 - Advent Song Song: O Come O Come Emmanuel Parent Resources by for King and Country https://www.youtube.com/watch? Listen: A Drummer Boy Christmas (for v=SkvYR4BcHYc King and Country) https://www.youtube.com/watch? This has for King and Country's v=draHA_9MS18 take on a number of classic Christmas https://open.spotify.com/track/0QK0ftnKFr0DS OzB5HCmfJ and Advent songs. They also created a story told through the images of their Pg. 3 - Scripture Reflection lyric videos on YouTube! This is a great Scripture: listen for the whole family! https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/13 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=KDdwJMNEjBs&list=PL6kw_7ww Pg. 3 Advent Prayer https://www.facebook.com/OurSundayVisitor/p Eaeb3hSL1ZVeVDf5B7aGXLLrD osts/an-advent-prayer-by-henri-jm-nouwenlord- Fr. Mike Schmitz for Ascension Presents jesus-master-of-both-the-light-and-the- d/1996294520463916/ Fr. Mike does a great job at taking a wide variety of Catholic topics and Pg. 4 - St. Louis IX, King of France speaking about them in short easy to Saint Biography: engage videos! Try watching one of his Adapted and Inspired by St. Clare's Windows by videos this month! Shelia Cullen (pgs. 14-17) Stained Glass Window Photo: https://media.ascensionpress.com/catego Window located in St. Clare Church ry/ascension-presents/fr-mike-schmitz/ Photo taken by Jack Fanning