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ADVENT 2021

Here are some ideas to help your celebration of the season of Advent:

a time of joyful waiting and expectation, of hope and trust in the promises of God. 

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Please use the buttons to explore the various ideas for you and your family.

We invite you to paint, draw, knit, sew or craft a Christmas Star to display in your window during Advent.  Like the star that led the wise men to Bethlehem, your star symbolises your journey to meet Christ this Christmas. 

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Then, if you are out and about, you can see how many stars you can find before 25th December!

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You can send in a photo of your star to us too!

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Advent Calendar
Star to the Stable

Advent Ideas for Busy People

Please click the booklet picture to download.

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Family Journey through Advent

Please click the map button

to download the booklet.

One family activity for each of the 4 weeks of Advent.  Have fun!!

A Family Journey through Advent

Advent Ideas for Busy People
Advent Resource Book
Advent Wreath

ADVENT WREATH

Why not think about making an Advent Wreath for your home to help countdown through this special season?  You could use greenery from the garden and get 5 candles: 3 purple, 1 pink and 1 white.

If you can't get different coloured candles just use 5 plain ones.

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Spend some time each week to light the candles in turn and to pray together.

1

HOPE

2

FAITH

3

JOY

4

PEACE

Week 1

Light the

first purple candle

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Child: God, we ask you to bless our family Advent Wreath. It has evergreen leaves, reminding us that you will always be with us…and it is shaped like a circle, with no beginning or end, just like your love for us is always there for us, surrounding us every day.

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Adult: Jesus, we look forward to celebrating your birth at Christmas. Open our hearts to love all the people we meet each day.

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All the family: Come Lord Jesus into our hearts and in our home.

Week 2

Light the

second purple candle

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Child: Jesus, our brother, we ask you to bless our family during this Advent time. We light these candles to remind us that you bring light into our lives and into the world. We thank you for showing us how to show love and be kind and help those who need help.

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Adult: God, your story of love for people all through time reminds us that you are with us, offering us light and hope. .Help us to trust in you this week.

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All the family: Come Lord Jesus into our hearts and into our home.

Week 3

Light the

pink candle

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Child: God, we light the pink candle today. This reminds us that you want joy for us…you want us to trust you and believe that you are there for us, even when things are hard.

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Adult: Jesus, our friend, we thank you for the joy you give us as a family…for all the love and fun we enjoy together. Help us to share our joy with others.

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All the family: Come Lord Jesus into our hearts and into our home.

Week 4

Light the

third purple candle

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Child: Jesus our friend and brother, we ask you to bless all the people who are waiting to celebrate your birthday….help us to spend these days of waiting by showing love and kindness to everyone.

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Adult: God, your love for us meant that you would give us your own Son. Help us to realise that you love us so much. We look forward to showing your love by being with you on Christmas Day.

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All the family: Come Lord Jesus into our hearts and into our home.

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CHRISTMAS

DAY

Christmas Day

Light the

white candle

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Child: Jesus, our new born King, we thank you for coming into the world bringing us your peace and joy.  Help us to follow the example of love you gave by being the best we can be.

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Adult: God, you gave us the best gift this Christmas: the gift of your son, Jesus.  Thank you for all the blessings that come from you.

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All the family: Come Lord Jesus into our hearts and into our home.

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Christingle

Christingle means Christ-light and is a fun activity to do with children.  Using the instructions you can create this colourful symbol of the Christ we welcome at Christmas.

Our easy to follow guide, will help you also make this a time of prayer, reflection and sharing as you make the Christingle together. 

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Jesse Tree
Christingle
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Travelling

Crib

Why not use Advent as a time to set up a crib in your home?  Move the Mary and Joseph figures around your home from the 1st Sunday of Advent as they make their way to where your crib is going to be and 'arrive' on Christmas Eve.

You could then do the same with the 3 Kings, and move those figures around the house from Christmas Day until they 'arrive' on the Feast of the Epiphany on 6th January.

If you do not have a crib set then you could make your own - using the Colour-in Nativity Set on this page.

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Colour-in

Nativity Set

This is a lovely, simple Nativity Set to print on card, cut out and fold.

It comes in 3 parts and

can be left plain

or coloured in.

Click on the buttons

to download.

PRAYERS FOR PLACING THE FIGURES

IN THE NATIVITY SCENE

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Click on the picture to download prayers and reflections when placing figures in the crib

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Bambinelli Blessing

Each year, on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, children gather with their families in St. Peter’s Square for “Bambinelli Sunday" and bring with them the figure of the Christ Child - the Bambinelli - from their family’s nativity scene.  The Pope blesses the children and the figurines they have brought.

 

You may wish

to celebrate this same tradition

and use the Bambinelli Blessing 

with your own Baby Jesus crib figure at home.

Bambinelli Sunday Blessing

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God our Father,

you loved us so much,

you sent us your only Son, Jesus,

born of the Virgin Mary,

to save us and lead us back to you.
We pray that, with your blessing,

these images of Jesus might be a sign

of your presence and love in our homes.
Good Father,

give your blessing to all who gather with us

this Christmas -  our family and friends.
Open our hearts,

that we might receive Jesus in joy,

always do what he asks of us,

and see him in those who need our love. 

AMEN.

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You may also like to bring your Baby Jesus figures to the outdoor Crib in Garristown and say the Blessing Prayer there too!

Travelling Crib
Colour-in Nativity
Crib figure prayers
Bambinelli Blessing
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