000 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC PARISH December 2020 “A Parish with open arms and caring hearts!” Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary December 8th On this day, we celebrate and honor the holiness and innocence of Mary. As Catholics, we believe that Mary was at her conception free of sin. She was free of the original sin and therefore pure enough to be the mother of Jesus. This is a feast of holy obligation. Even though the Blessed Virgin Mary lived in a world that was fraught with sin, she was not touched by it. God filled her with so much grace and mercy. When told that she would carry the Son of the Most Hight, she said yes to God without condition. Her yes changed her life– and ours! Advent – The Season of Waiting and preparing our hearts to receive the Christ Child. The ABCs of teaching your kids to read the Bible-Our Sunday Visitor https://teachingcatholickids.com/the“Prepare the way of -theabcs Lord,-of-teaching make-your straight-kids-to- hisread path-the-bible/.” Matthew 3:3 For family discussion: What happens during Communion? When was the last time you said “yes” to God? We receive Jesus, the Bread of Life! What does this mean? As a family,- We think are united of withsome Jesus things that you might have said “no” to and to change it to saying “yes” – without fear, without hesitation, and in full trust in God. How did that make you feel? - Share with us your thoughts, questions and your experiences as family. - Family Activity Corner Family Faith Sunday is a multi-generational program where parents/guardians and their children (K-8th) gather to pray, play and share their faith in community with other families in a fun way! December 13th St. Lucy St. Lucy (or, in Scandinavia, Lucia), whose name means light, was often called the patron saint of the light of the body or the eyes. People prayed to her for help with eye diseases. In Scandinavia, St. Lucia’s feast day is celebrated by the oldest daughter in the family serving a special breakfast (including Lucia Cakes) wearing a white robe and a ring of candles around her head. On this day, young boys often wore a Star Boy hats that were blue cones covered in gold starts. st December 21 – 1 Day of Winter You can read and hear Sunday readings at any time! Get them on your smart device! Read them at Pflaum.org Here or listen to them at daily readings Live-stream daily mass at 9:00 and Sunday at 10:00 HERE th December 6 – St. Nicholas St. Nicholas was a well -loved bishop born in the fourth century In the country now known as Turkey. His family was very Feast Day: Wealthy and both of his parents died when he was very young. December 6th St. Nicholas is remembered for his very generous spirit. He Always helped others and gave most of his inheritance away. St. Nicholas once helped a father who could not afford to take Care of his three oldest daughters. The Father did not know what to do. Nicholas found out and let money in the daughter’s shoes that were drying outside the house. Thus, the tradition of leaving shoes at the doorstep for St. Nicholas to fill on Here is a fun way to reinforce gratitude at the beginning of December 6th with treats of chocolate. the season, which can continue to carry you into the Thanksgiving season. As a family, each member can make their own “Harvest Gratitude Pumpkin” which can decorate your prayer table, where you eat, or in special places throughout your homes that continue to remind you to be grateful! Pray for us! Supplies: Orange and green construction paper Tape Toilet paper roll or paper towel roll Markers • Cut orange paper into 1” strips; need 8-10 total • Have each family member write something they are grateful for on each strip. • Cut the toilet/paper towel roll as tall as you want your pumpkin to be, the shorter to roll the wider Make Recycled Ornaments You can use small odd puzzle pieces and spray with Gold, Red and Green spray paint, and sprinkle with glitter. Punch a hole and tie a ribbon through it. Virtual Light up the Night December 4th, 7:00 p.m. Family Traditions – Old and New Christmas Story Reenactment – Have the kids dress up in bathrobes and dish towels and act out the Christmas story. Take a family picture of your holy family to enjoy throughout the year. Pickle in the Tree – Play the German pickle game. Hide a glass or paper pickle in the Christmas Tree. The first person to find the pickle in all the decorations wins a prize. That person then hides the pickle for the next round of the game. Marshmallow Snow People – Make marshmallow snow people for a sweet first day of winter snack. Make white frosting and drop a small spoon of it on a Graham Cracker Square or flat cookie. Place a marshmallow on the frosting and add 1 or 2 more marshmallows with frosting in between the first one. Dip small candles in frosting to make facial features, hats etc. Bird Feeders – Make bird feeders for the birds that sometimes have a hard time finding food in the winter. Spread peanut butter on both sides of a bagel. Dip the bagel in birdseed until it is completely covered. Put a piece of yarn through the middle of the bagel and tie the two ends together to make a loop for hanging. Have fun placing your birdfeeders where you can watch the birds enjoy the feast that you made for them. Placemats – Glue smaller snowflakes or dollies to dark blue paper. Laminate the paper or cover with clear contact paper and use as placemats throughout the winter. You can also make placemats during Advent with a different message each week: Hope, Peace, Joy and Loving. Paper Chains – Honor Mary’s purity by making a white paper chain with white cutout flowers to decorate the prayer space. You can write each family members name on each flower or link in the chain. Make a Living Wreath Make a living Advent wreath with your children as you observe Advent. Use a 12’ length of green garland. Cover 4 wrapping paper tubes or potato chip cans with purple paper and cut out 4 large flames from yellow paper. For each week in Advent ad a flame to another candle. As you pray the Advent prayers have your family stand in circle around the Advent wreath. Prayer for week One: AS we light the 1st candle on our Advent wreath, we start down a holy path to Christmas. We give thanks to God for all the good things in our lives, especially the love of family and friends. We are happy to share God’s love with others while we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s Son. Amen Prayer for week Two: Mary and Joseph were people of great love. They were chosen to be the parents of Jesus because of their love for God. They were chosen to be the parents of Jesus because of their love for God. We are thankful to have their obedience, kindness and deep faith as our examples. As we travel on our Advent path and light the 2nd candle on the Advent wreath, we pray that we too will love God as much as Mary and Joseph. Amen Prayer for week Three: The journey to Bethlehem must have been very hard for Mary Joseph. A long donkey ride on a rough path must have seemed to go on forever, but Mary and Joseph trusted God and knew that God would be there to take care of them. We are so thankful that God is always here for us, during good times and bad. We remember this when we light the 3rd candle on our Advent wreath. Amen Prayer for week Four: How excited Mary and Joseph must have been as the day of Jesus’ birth grew closer. Their hearts must have been full of Joy and Thanksgiving. As we light the 4th Advent candle, and Christmas Day comes closer, we too have become more excited and joyful. We with us loving God and help us to keep Jesus in our hearts as our Advent journey takes us closer to Christmas. Amen Christmas Eve – December 24th And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not, afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And, this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12. Family Christmas Eve Prayer: On Christmas Eve, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, born in a humble stable. We think about His parents who must have been scared and tired, but also full of Joy as they held their new baby in their arms for the first time. Thank you, Lord, for sending us your Son, Jesus, who gives us light and hope in the days ahead.