HANGING OF THE GREENS An Interactive Guide Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. ORDER OF WORSHIP HOW TO CREATE AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE AT HOME Light Poinsettias Candles Wreaths Chrismons Greens Christmas Trees Holly Bells Gifts Nativity Lights "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." Lights & candles have been used for centuries at Christmas to express joy and to signify the coming of Light. Placing candles in a window to light the Christ Child on his way is a custom brought to this country from Germany and Ireland. If a passing stranger is weary or in need the lighted candle is a sign they are welcome. Also, lighted candles in some communities beckon carolers to stop and sing. As we light the candles on the altar, in the windows, and light-up the trees, we proclaim Christmas coming into a world of sin and evil, war and strife, stress and turmoil, suffering and death to bring hope and help--light and life-- to guide us toward peace and joy Christmas Light Tour Pile everyone into the car and go for a Christmas light drive. As you drive around take a look at Christmas lights, what do you see? What purpose do the various different lights have? What do you see the most? Poinsettias As legend has it, a young girl named Pepita was traveling to her village to visit the Nativity scene at the chapel. Pepita did not have enough money to buy a present to give the baby Jesus at the services, so she gathered a bundle of roadside weeds and formed a bouquet. She was upset that she didn’t have more to offer, but she was reminded by her cousin that “even the most humble gift, given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes.” Upon entering the chapel and presenting her bouquet to the Nativity Jesus, the bouquet of roadside weeds miraculously turned into a bouquet of beautiful red flowers that the locals knew as Cuetlaxochitl. The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity. At St. Matthew's we place 12 poinsettias on our altar. These poinsettias are given in honor or memory of loves ones. as the names are read aloud this year, take a moment as a family to share names of someone special that you want to remember this year (celebrating or remembering). You can create your own poinsettias and display them somewhere special in your home during the season. Advent Wreath The tradition of the Advent wreath is traced back to an old Scandinavian custom that celebrated the comign of the light after a season of darkness. In that day candles were placed on the edge of a horizontal wheel. As the wheel was spun around, the lighted candles would blend into a continuous circle of light. Today we use a circle of evergreen to remind us of the continuous power of God which knows no beginning or ending. There is also symbolism in the colors of the candles in the Advent wreath. The three purple candles symbolize the coming of Christ from the royal line of David. He is coming as the King of Kinds as well as the Prince of Peace. these three candles represent Hope, Love, and Peace. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent season. It represents joy. The white candle in the center represent purity and is lit on Christmas Eve. 1st Sunday of Advent: Hope/Prophet's Candle (reminds that Christ is coming) 2nd Sunday of Advent: Faith/Bethlehem Candle (reminds of Joseph & Mary's journey) 3rd Sunday of Advent: Joy/Shepherd's Candle (reminds of the Joy the world experienced when Jesus was born) 4th Sunday of Advent: Peace/Angel's Candle (reminds of the angel's message "Peace on Earth & Good Will to Men") Christmas Eve: Light of Christ coming to the world How to create your own wreath for your door/windows/Advent wreath Materials needed: -Paper plate -Green Cardstock -Green paint -Red Pompoms -Red Ribbon -Glue 1. Remove the center of the paper plate. Once removed, paint the remaining circle of plate green (optional). most of the plate will be covered with the next steps but small sections of the base may remain seen. 2. Using green cardstock, trace the handprints of those in your family. You will need several of these. 3. Begin gluing the green handprints around the circle-- 'fingers' pointing out. If using various shades of green, alternate the colors. 4. Attach red pompoms, stickers, etc. Finish the bottom off with a red ribbon bow. Uses: Place your provided candles with in, on, or around the wreath as your family celebrates Advent. Or hang on a door or window for all to see. Chrismons The word Chrismon is a combination of two words: Christ and Monogram. A Chrismon is a monogram of Christ. They are symbols which were designed and carved or drawn by some of the earliest Christians. Early Christians used them to identify themselves to one another, to designate meeting places of the church, and sometimes to show believers where they stood. All Chrismon's are white and gold which represent God's purity, perfection, majesty, and glory. To make a Chrismon: 1. Gather gold decorations such as glitter, pipe cleaners, etc 2. Choose one of the following shapes (or more) 3. Copy or draw onto cardboard/cardstock 4. Decorate in white & gold King of Kings Baptism Used by early Christian as a secret password Trinity Ascension of MetamorphasisN Monogram of Early secret Christ & the ew life in Christ Christ password/Jesus is hope of an anchor resurrection Holly Down through the centuries, holly has been a popular winter decoration. Early Christians practiced the Roman custom of giving holly as gifts, but fashioned it as wreaths to symbolize the crown of thorns. According to legend, Christ's crown was made of holly branches. The berries were white, but when the holly crown was pressed against him, drops of blood turned the white berries red. Because of this miracle early missionaries used holly in their preaching to symbolize the suffering of Christ. In many villages, thereB wase a chlurlchs and most churches had a bell. When something important was happening such as remembering the birth of Jesus Christ they would ring the bell. At Christmas, the bells would ring out proclaiming Jesus' birth. Bells were a way to proclaim the joy of Christmas. Bells were inexpensive musical instruments that people could take with them caroling or wassailing and almost every family had one or more. Bells also provided a bright Christmas. What can you do to share the good news of Jesus' birth this holiday season? How are you showing God's love to those in your neighborhood? In your family? Maybe instead of bells, you can intentionally set aside time to sit down and create cards to send to family and friends. Gifts From the beginning of Christmas celebrations, gift giving has been a part of the season. The Wise Men gave out their treasures, and the Shepherds gave of themselves. Both express the Gift of God in giving Christ as the Savior of the World. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. That whoever believes in him shall not perish but will have everlasting life" John 3:16 What is on your Christmas list? No ones list would include frankincense or myrrh. But for a little baby born in Bethlehem to two travelers the perfume, oil, and gold were full of meaning and value. They were gifts fit for a king. In the 3rd & 4th Centuries, there was another gift giver--St. Nicholas of Myra (present day Turkey). He was a very kind, wealthy Bishop who would care for the poor and give gifts in secret to those who needed them most. One such gift was a bag of gold coins found in a stocking hung by the fire to dry. There was a man who had three daughters but he was too poor for them to get married. One morning they awoke to find gold coins in the oldest daughter's stocking. Another morning it was the second daughter's stocking. The old man discovered that it was Nicholas who was giving the secret gifts. From there, anytime a secret gift was given it was assumed to have come from Nicholas. In parts of Europe, the legend of St. Nicholas gave way to 'Christkind'--a golden haired baby who symbolized the new born King, Jesus. Christkind became Kris Kringle. Nativity During the Middle Ages there were only a few books; even if there had been more, most of the people could not read them. The church ceremonies were conducted in Latin at that time, so holidays like Christmas and Easter, held little meaning for many church attendants. This worried St. Francis of Assisi of Greccio, Italy in 1224. The good saint was filled with an overwhelming desire to help his hearers understand sacred truths, so they might have a deeper religious experience.