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ADVENT
FAMILY PRAYER
WEEK ONE
PRAYER
AROUND THE ADVENT WREATH
Not
all the darkness in the world can put out the light of one small candle.
The Light of God surrounds us. The Love of God enfolds us. The Power of
God protects us. The Presence of God watches over us. Wherever our family
gathers, there God is. Advent beckons to us. Be still, be alert. Get into
the spirit of Old Testament folk and yearn for the Saviour. Cry out to be
open and receptive. Sharpen our awareness of the God who dwells within.
Open up! Hallow out! Receive. Welcome the One who comes.
Our
planet, our home, all of nature around us was given to us to help us to
live, to grow, and to support us in loving each other. But much of our
world has become sick as we have abused these gifts and taken them for
granted. We have to find ways to heal our world. Clear up the part
of the world you are responsible for this week. Make that repair on your
house you have been postponing, clear the garden of its refuse, clear out
your work areas, clean your closets.
As
our world grows smaller through modern communications our notion of family
is stretched. We see the universality of the Kingdom Jesus is
promising. Persons of other cultures and faiths are seen as our brothers
and sisters. Add a symbol of another culture to your Advent centrepiece. A
magazine picture, a momento of your summer vacation to another place, an
artifact of the Orient, Africa, Europe or Native Peoples can serve as a
reminder of the universal nature of the promised Kingdom.
Discuss
with your family: What was one of your most difficult moments today? How
do you feel about the way you walked through it? Did you learn anything
from this? Do you see how God is present in hard times as well as happy
ones?
St.
Nicholas (whose feast day is December 6th), is the patron of all who are
generous. Be generous with your God, with those you love, and with your
patience this season; be generous with your goods and your time and care
for others.
ST.
NICHOLAS BLESSING PRAYER (December 6)
St.
Nicholas, holy patron of children, Bishop of the East, we invite you to
come among us and to grant us your holy blessing.
Help
us in this busy, busy season not to miss the miracle of the coming of
Emmanuel in the days of preparation as well as on the feast itself.
Help
us not to be blind to the gifts of getting ready.
 Kind
St. Nicholas, protect us from shopper's fatigue. Show us how to take
delight in the marketplace, now transformed in beauty, lights and music.
Save us from all anxiety over what to give so that we may concentrate on HOW
to give.
Stand
by the stepladder as we decorate our homes and trees and lives. May our
decorations not be mute but rather signs of the evergreen coming of the
Lord of Life. Help us to remember that mistletoe, holly and all other
ornaments of the season, were sacred signs to ancient believers.
But,
most of all, jolly saint of toys and sweets, help us stay youthful,
humorous, playful and dream-filled as we prepare together for the coming
of Christ with Advent longing.
St.
Nicholas, pray for us. AMEN!
Tuesday,
December 8th is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary! Place the
Mary figure from your creche set within the circle of your Advent wreath.
Read the story of the Annunciation from your Bible (Luke 1:26-38).
Have
a family member read this prayer:
“Hail,
Mary, most beautiful woman, you carried the Word of God for us. Hail, O
Virgin, the glory of our race, you have borne Emmanuel for us. We pray
that you will remember our family before the Lord Jesus Christ. Help each
of us to be open and happy to say yes to God. Bless us and help us to love
and support one another.”
Then
say the “Hail Mary” together.
As
you go about your preparations for Christmas: baking, house cleaning,
buying gifts, etc., discuss the coming event with the family to ensure the
real meaning of
Christmas (not the commercial aspect) is the focal point of your
celebrations.
Children
understand preparations for their own birthdays, this Advent, let us help
them to understand that this is the preparation for the birthday of Jesus.
THIS
WEEK:
Pray only asking to do God’s will and trust that He will give
understanding and faith to follow Him as Mary did.
THIS
WEEK:
Pray only asking to do God’s will and trust that He will give
understanding and faith to follow Him as Mary did.
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