Season 2015 FAMILY RESOURCES

Valley of Peace believes that the majority of lasting faith formation happens in the home. That is why we provide a seasonal resource guide for families to use at home with their children and youth. This guide focuses on the church Advent season and includes family devotions and prayers, film suggestions, and family service opportunities. This guide is designed for families with children and youth ages 3 – 12th grade .

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. The Advent season begins on Sunday, November 29 and lasts for four Sundays leading up to . At that CONTENTS time, the new Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of , which lasts from until . Advent is a time of waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. There are a Pg. 2……………...What Children Really variety of practices and resources that can assist individuals and Want for Christmas families in slowing down during this time of year when the world around us picks up the frantic pace of consumerism. Pg. 2……………….Service Opportunities

Best wishes for a meaningful Advent Season! Pg. 3……………Advent Christingle Craft Emilie Moravec Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries Pg. 3………………….Advent Movie Night

Pg. 4……………Week by Week Advent Family Devotion

Advent Wreath What Children Really Want for Christmas Advent Prayer for the Home 1. Relaxed and loving time with the family. Between Thanksgiving Lord, grant us peace when we and Christmas, children and youth feel the stress of family more as time is consumed with preparation, shopping, and other social worry about trying to shop and obligations. Parents need to make a conscious decision to set aside not having enough money to relaxed time with their families which means having to say “no” to buy the things we want to for some chores or events. our friends and family. 2. Realistic expectations about gifts. Parental influence is stronger Grant us the peace to than any commercial. Kids want parents to define the celebration and share their sense of values. When children have exciting family remember that the spirit of activities to look forward to before and after the present- opening, Christmas dwells in our homes gifts start taking their rightful place in the festivities. and hearts and not in the mall.

3. An evenly paced holiday season. Hold off on some important Grant us the peace to traditions until a week or so before Christmas. Get the decorations understand that the true gift of out on December 10th, tree up on Dec. 20th, celebrate the 12 days Christmas doesn’t come from a and culminate it on Epiphany. store but comes from your Son,

4. Strong family traditions. Children perceive that anything they can the Prince of Peace, the reason count on year after year is a tradition, and most of us have more of we celebrate. Amen. these hidden traditions that we realize. The holiday food, customary visits, music, how you display Christmas cards. Talk with your children to find out which holiday activities are most important to them and The Book of Uncommon Prayer: Contemplative make an effort to do them. and Celebratory Prayers and Worship Services for Youth Ministry by Steven L. Case (Youth Specialties, 2002) Unplug The Christmas Machine: How to Have the Christmas You’ve Always Wanted by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli (New York: Quill, 1982).

Serving Others  Shop for a gift for Plymouth Christian Youth Center.  Fill a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. Food Shelf.  Visit an elderly home and hand out cookies.  Take a plate of cookies and a homemade  Take a few gifts to a shelter. to your doctor’s office, library,  Write a letter to a friend or troops stationed overseas. and/or dentist office.  Drive to a store that has a Salvation Army bell ringer  Anonymously pay for the Santa photos of the just to donate (without going into the store to buy person behind you in line at the mall. anything!).  Wear Santa hats and take some doggie treats  Buy a small gift for a child in the long-term care wing to your local animal shelter. of the children’s ward, and bring a bouquet of flowers  If you go to the woods to chop a Christmas for his/her family. tree, buy an extra license and bring one home  Serve a meal together as a family at a local homeless for a neighbor who may not have the resources shelter. to get their own.  Clean out your toy boxes and donate good quality  Wear Santa hats and take a garbage bag to items to an opportunity store. clean up garbage from your neighborhood.  Raid the pantry for canned goods to donate to PRISM Make A Christingle for Advent The word Christingle means “Christ Light” and originated from the custom of giving children lighted candles on Christmas Eve in a small church in Marienborn, Germany in 1747. The minister wanted a simple symbol to bring home the message of Christmas for the children. He gave them a lighted candle tied with a red ribbon while praying, “Dear Lord , kindle a flame in these dear children’s hearts.” You will need: • A large orange – represents the world • A small candle – as a reminder that Jesus is the Light of the world • A red ribbon – stands for forgiveness, a reminder of the blood shed by Jesus on the cross (red sticky tape or florist’s ribbon works best) • Small piece of aluminum foil • Four toothpicks with dried fruit & sweets such as raisins and gumdrops – represent the four seasons and all the good things God created for us

Assembly: • Take a small slice off the bottom of the orange so that it can stand securely without rolling. • Wrap the tape or ribbon around the middle of the orange. • Make two slits crosswise, with a knife, to the orange, or use an apple corer to make a slight hole. • Place a circle of silver foil over the hole made, to trap the hot candle wax. • Gently push the candle into the orange until it is secure. • Thread sweets, fruits and raisins onto the toothpicks, ensuring that the sharp point is covered. • Fix four completed sticks into the orange.

Family Movies for Advent Nothing beats curling up with some popcorn and a good movie on a cold night with the family. Here are a couple good options for a movie night during the Advent season that, surprisingly, have nothing to do with Christmas:

 Hugo (PG 2011) At its most basic, Hugo is about wonder and the joy of invention. But it is also about the trials of finding one’s place in the world and the deep yearning we feel to fix what is broken. It touches on family, memory, dreams, and the relationship between youth and old age in profound and hopeful ways.

 Little Women (PG 1994) Little Women’s insight is that the family, or the family-like community—those people or places we call home—gives us the strength both to serve those we love and to achieve great things of our own. Advent is a time to remember this rejuvenating power of our families and communities. Hugo, 2011

Family Devotion ADVENT WEEK BY WEEK

This devotional is meant to be used week by week with the lighting of an at home. You can buy a wreath, make a wreath, or even draw a picture of one adding a candle each week as you talk about the following questions as a family.

Week 1: November 29-December 5 Light or draw the first candle and discuss the candle of HOPE. 1. Ask each person to talk about a special Christmas celebration from the past. Talk about what you are looking forward to this Christmas. 2. Sort through your Christmas ornaments and find those that sym- Prayers Week By Week bolize the “Light” of Jesus who is the Light of the World. What help does the light of Jesus give to you? Week 1 God beyond time, help us to live Week 2: December 6-12 in the tension between what you Light or draw the second candle and discuss the candle of LOVE. have done and what you will do, 1. What does it mean to love? How do you show love? and into the truth that Christ will 2. In what ways can we show God’s love this season? come again.

Week 3: December 13-19 Week 2 Light or draw the third candle and discuss the candle of JOY. God of holy patience, help us to 1. Talk about the gifts you are giving to others and the joy it brings offer a compassionate witness you when someone is excited about your gift. against the fear and despair of 2. Share something joyful that happened today or this week. our time.

Week 4: December 20-24 Week 3 Light or draw the fourth candle and discuss the candle of CHRIST. God of our present age, stir up in 1. How do you think the birth of Jesus Christ changed history? us a longing for justice with com- 2. How does Jesus bring peace to your life? How does Jesus bring passion and prepare us for the in peace to the world? -breaking reign of your love and peace.

Week 4 God of courage and fulfilment, help us to make Mary’s Song our song — the song of our lives and of our work; the song of the Church and its life and work in the world.