Advent and Christmas 2009
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Media News Advent and Christmas 2009 PREPARING FOR ADVENT 2009 V3071 ADVENT WITH SAINT NICHOLAS: CUSTOMS V3155 CELEBRATING THE SEASON: ADVENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD The custom of the Advent Wreath is the focus of this video. In the light Ten-year-old Holly arrives home from religion class eager to enter a contest of the Advent Wreath we remember, live and hope for the one who has about the meaning of Advent. While she tries to tell her family about it, already come. The simple Advent Wreath tells the story of a people they are too caught up in worry and banter about the details of Christmas yesterday and today who yearn for more light in their life. The video also preparation to listen. Later that day Holly sits at the computer, feeling includes other Advent discouraged. Suddenly a surprise visitor appears - St. Nicholas! With the activities and traditions such as the Jesse Tree, an Advent Friend, Straw saint's help, Holly learns more about the meaning and background of cus- for a Crib and an Advent House to help young people appreciate the toms her family and other families practice during Advent - such as the spiritual Advent dimension of the Advent and Christmas seasons. Grades 3-8. Guide calendar, the Advent wreath, the Christmas tree, Las Posadas, and more. included. St. Nicholas offers ideas as to how some of the customs, e.g., decorating the P, J, I 012 Min. Video 1992 Christmas tree and sending Christmas cards, can be practiced in a way that celebrates the Advent spirit of expectation and mystery. As St. Nicholas V1219a PREPARE AND CELEBRATE - PROGRAM 1 leaves, Holly can't wait to write about Advent. An engaging live action Prepare and Celebrate is intended to introduce students to the liturgies story for ages 7-11. and customs of the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter P, J 012 Min. Video (Descriptions of each of these programs can be seen by looking under the specific title). The distinctive characteristics of the principal liturgies of each season are V3118 CELEBRATING THE CHURCH YEAR WITH explained, and examples of informal customs and practices in home or CHILDREN: ADVENT school are presented. This program presents Advent as a season of prepa- Advent is a time of anticipation and expectation, a time of joy and hope, a ration for both the celebration of the Christmas season and also for the time of waiting. This video looks at liturgical practices and Christian family Second Coming of Christ at the end of time. The spirit of joyful expec- customs which capture that hope for the Messiah. Children aged 8-12 will tancy is explored in the scriptural readings, customs, and hymns of Ad- discover here the deep meaning of this season. The liturgical and devotional vent. practices of the season are illustrated and explained. As an added bonus, I 010 Min. Video 1983 Father Rathschmidt and Gaynell Cronin, acclaimed religious educators, offer original prayer services for home and church. V1219b PREPARE AND CELEBRATE - PROGRAM 2 P, J, I 015 Min. Video 1986 This program tells the story of Christmas and explains how it is cele- brated in the Church's life and worship. It traces the rhythm of the season V3119 CELEBRATING THE CHURCH YEAR WITH from CHILDREN: CHRISTMAS Christmas through Epiphany to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and Why do we put up special lights and trees and Nativity scenes at Christmas? relates the liturgical celebrations to family customs in the home. What does the Christmas celebration really mean? Viewers aged 8-12 will I 009 Min. Video 1983 discover here the answers to those questions and what they mean about life and faith. The meaning of the Incarnation is expressed in an original chil- V3074 PREPARING FOR ADVENT: AN ADVENT dren's story and in the celebration of the Church. The liturgical and devo- PROGRAM FOR THE FAMILY tional Father Anthony Scannell guides you through the scriptures, stories and practices of the season are illustrated and explained. As an added bonus, music with warmth and charm. The themes for the weeks of Advent are: Father Rathschmidt and Gaynell Cronin, acclaimed religious educators, I - Waiting; II - Hoping; III - Preparing; IV - Giving and Receiving. By offer original prayer services for home and church. spending a few minutes each week to make Advent the "Waiting in faith" P, J, I 015 Min. Video 1986 time that it is meant to be, this Christmas can be very special indeed. Each program is 015 Min. V3099 THE ANGEL'S ADVENT LESSON P, J 060 Min. Video 1986 Danny is happily making out his Christmas list - adding more and more toys and games - when his Guardian Angel, Theophane, suddenly appears. It is V3075 PREPARING FOR ADVENT II very obvious to Theo that Danny has forgotten the real meaning of Christ- Preparing for Christmas II is a video presentation intended to guide and mas. Together they review practices like the Advent wreath, reciting daily inspire families and other small group gatherings to celebrate Advent and prayers at home and doing daily acts of kindness. They also recall many of anticipate the birth of the Saviour in an involving and prayerful way. The the great Scripture characters from the Advent readings. Grades 2 through video is a 8. Includes Teacher's Guide. series of 4 programs - one for each week of Advent. Each program is 015 P, J, I 011 Min. Video 1998 Min. Includes Guide. P, J 060 Min. Video 1986 V3184 A CHRISTMAS WISH Little Justine just can't wait...she wishes Christmas would come right away. There's a surprise in store, though, when her wish comes true, for it doesn't turn out exactly as she had hoped. In the end she discovers that the time of preparation increases the joy of Christmas. The story stresses the importance of Advent as a season of anticipation and preparation. A wonderful way to open discus- sion about the meaning of Advent, the video is ideal for both class- room and home use (for ages 5 to 9). P, J, I 009 Min. Video 1998 New Christmas DVD’s D0322H GREAT JOY This book has a DVD to accompany it. Deep in the purple dusk of Winter, a monkey and an organ grinder appear on the corner of Fifth and Vine. Frances watches the monkey hold out his silver cup to the busy passersby. Some- times, when the traffic is very quiet for just a minute, she can hear the organ's sweet, sad music. But Frances is troubled when she notices that the man and the monkey are still on the street late at night. Where do they sleep? She can't stop thinking about them, even while she's practicing her line and getting her costume ready for the local Christmas pageant. When the moment finally comes for Frances to speak, the gift of compas- sion allows her to share the perfect words with everyone, at just the right time. A luminous holiday story about the miraculous, powerful secret of joy. P, J 8 Min. DVD/book 2008 D0246H THE NATIVITY STORY Powerful, timeless and visually magnificent, The Nativity Story is "a beautiful telling of one of the world's most familiar stories". It was the cruelest of times. Under Herod's torturous reign, families struggled to survive and yet, in the midst of utter turmoil, a young woman's faith was put to the test. Join Mary and Joseph on an incredi- ble journey of hope and discovery. Film Study Guide included. NOTE: This DVD is suitable for Junior, Inter- mediate and Senior divisions. There are some incidents of conflict which are somewhat violent. With Teacher explanation, some small portions of the program may be appropriate for Primary classes (i.e. The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Birth of Jesus). Please preview and use discretion when viewing with Primary students. J, I, S, A DVD 2006 Teacher’s Guide D0270H THE PEACE TREE Two Muslim girls dream of celebrating Christmas, while their Christian friend imagines celebrating Eid. But when their parents raise objections, the girls must find a way to convince their parents that it's really all about peace. Through their struggles, they create a unique symbol, The Peace Tree, a tree that highlights the symbols from all our cultures and faiths to reflect the beauty of diversity in unity. Guide included. P, J, I, S 48 Min. DVD 2005 D0048 NOEL NOEL Noel Noel, a misguided billionaire, is in love with Beatrice, a pretty bespectacled fairy. But thanks to a little girl named Zoey, her dog Snooze and a blue-eyed reindeer, his eyes are finally opened. Enlivened by a humorous and rhymed narration from Leslie Nielsen, Noel Noel is an animated fantasy about Christmas, reminding us that happiness comes when the heart is allowed to speak. Includes both French and English tracks. 023 Min. (plus bonus features, 052 Min. total) P, J 023 Min. DVD 2005 D0240 THE FOURTH WISE MAN D0379H JESUS FOR KIDS Based on "The Other Wise Man" by Henry Van Use this five-part series to introduce your children to Dyk. He has gifts to present, but misses the caravan Jesus. If you are a parent or a teacher, you are aware of of the other magi who have set off to Bethlehem. He the amazing capacity of small children to learn at a fan- and his servant, begin their own search for the King. tastic rate. They will pick up a lot you might wish they The journey is delayed as they offer assistance to didn't.