S I M C O E M U S K O K A C A T H O L I C D I S T R I C T S C H O O L B O A R D / / D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 / / I S S U E 7 FAITH MATTERS ies Faith nourishment for the families mil of the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic for fa District School Board Preparing Our Hearts in Advent For our families, Advent can be a IN THIS ISSUE time of togetherness and shared In the Christian calendar, Advent is a four- prayer, and of growing excitement as week season of eager anticipation and Christmas draws near. When all of Preparing Our Hearts in joyful waiting. It is a time when we society around us is already jumping Advent prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth in ahead into Christmas, Advent The Origins of the Nativity Bethlehem 2000 years ago (the main reminds us of the importance of Scene focus of our Christmas celebrations), but patient waiting, of watchfulness, and Advent & Christmas it also points us ahead to the day Jesus of hope, as we look toward the will return at the end of time. And it future—and celebrate the present!) Resources for Families reminds us that Jesus comes to us A Blessing for a Nativity already, in the sacraments, in the reading How might families take advantage Scene of the Scriptures, when we gather of Advent to spiritually prepare for together in prayer, and especially in those Christmas? who are poor, suffering, neglected or by listening together to some of unloved. Jesus is coming, but he is also the beautiful music of this already with us! season (suggestions below!) by lighting an Advent wreath (or Perhaps the best-known symbol of this a prayer candle) and offering a season is the Advent wreath, the circle short prayer together of evergreen branches which includes by slowly moving the figurines of three purple candles and one pink Mary and Joseph from your candle (reflecting the colours of the family Nativity scene throughout priest’s vestments at Mass). With each your house, to symbolize the Sunday, we light one more candle, long and difficult journey they leading us closer and closer to our made to Bethlehem ... until they joyful celebration of Jesus’ coming into "arrive" in your Nativity scene on the world at Christmas. With each week, Christmas Eve! there is more and more light, as we talking about how you can help draw closer to the birth of the one we to support those in your area call the Light of the World, who shatters who are poor or needy as the the darkness of violence and sin with holidays approach, or who may the brightness of his love. be lonely at this time of year A Blessing for a Nativity Scene + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Leader: We are at the beginning of the days of Christmas. All through the season, we will look on these images of sheep and cattle, of shepherds, of Mary and of Joseph, and Jesus. The Origins of the Nativity Advent & Christmas Let us listen to the words of the Scene Resources for Families holy gospel according to Luke: About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all From the Archdiocese of Toronto St. Francis of Assisi deserves credit for the people to be listed in record inventing the Nativity scene (or crèche) books. These first records were as we know it today. Historians say that, From the Diocese of Peterborough made when Quirinius was in December 1223, St Francis was governor of Syria. Everyone had to passing through the Italian town of Advent Activities for All (from Loyola go to their own hometown to be Greccio, whose caves reminded him of Press) listed. So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to the rocky grotto in Bethlehem where One Prayer a Day (from Creighton Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Jesus was born. With the help of local Bethlehem had been King David’s University) farmers, he assembled a living Nativity hometown, and Joseph went there scene for Christmas Eve, as a backdrop because he was from David’s to the Mass that night. Some accounts Music family. Mary was engaged to say that, by a miracle, the baby Jesus Joseph and traveled with him to himself came and was visibly present in O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Bethlehem. She was soon going to the manger that night. have a baby, and while they were O Come, Divine Messiah there, she gave birth to her first- born son. She dressed him in baby In many cultures, the Nativity scene is a clothes and laid him on a bed of focal point of the Christmas On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry hay, because there was no room celebrations. In an Advent letter last for them in the inn. year, Pope Francis wrote: "The The Huron Carol ('Twas in the Moon The Gospel of the Lord. enchanting image of the Christmas of Wintertime) crèche, so dear to the Christian people, Leader: And now let us ask for never ceases to arouse amazement and May You Find a Light God’s blessing as we look upon wonder ... The nativity scene is like a the figures in our Nativity scene. God of Mary and Joseph, of living Gospel rising up from the pages of Breath of Heaven shepherds and animals, bless us sacred Scripture ... We come to realize whenever we look upon this that so great is God's love for us that he God of Love, Your son, Jesus, is your manger scene. Through all the became one of us, so that we in turn greatest gift to us. days of Christmas, may these might become one with him." (Apostolic He is a sign of your love. figures tell the story of how Letter 'Admirabile Signum') Help us walk in that love during the humans, angels and animals found Jesus in this poor place. weeks of Advent, As we set up our Nativity scenes, and as Fill our home with hospitality, As we wait and prepare for his joy, gentleness and thanks- we gaze on them during Christmas, the coming. giving, and guide our steps in the simple beauty and rich meaning of We pray in the name of Jesus, our way of peace. Grant this through Jesus' birth become more and more Christ our Lord. Amen. apparent to us. Savior. Amen. (Advent activities, Loyola Press) + In the name of the Father, and The Nativity Scene Tradition Begun by of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. St. Francis of Assisi Amen. The Christmas Story as told creatively (You may wish to sing a favourite Christmas carol together as a by Ella, one of our students family to conclude) .