Activities to bring Advent into the family home

Intermountain Catholic

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Members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, including Timothy Johnston (shown), assembled an Advent wreath at the bishop’s residence on Monday with a number of symbolic elements.

Advent is a season of anticipation, waiting for Christ to come again into our lives. For children, though, the focus of the weeks before Christmas is often the wrapped presents under the tree, but there are some simple things families can do to keep Jesus at the center of attention.

Acting together as a family during Advent is important, "because the family is the smallest representation of the Church," said Matthew Boerke, director of the Diocese of Salt Lake Youth & Young Adult Ministry. "It helps the family to grow stronger together and, as far as propagation of the faith, it takes the adults to mentor and teach the kids in the way of the faith."

Creating a Jesse tree is one Advent tradition that families can do together, Boerke suggests, because it’s appropriate for all ages. Younger children can cut out and color symbols to hang on the tree, while older children and adults could focus on how to live out the idea behind each symbol, such as doing someone a kindness or being more patient. "You could have a task of the day to go with each symbol of the Jesse tree, in terms of how to live it out," he said.

Family members also can write their own prayers for each week of Advent and read them at meal times when they light the candles on the wreath, he suggested.

Younger children particularly like the Advent calendar, which has a Biblical verse and perhaps a candy for each day, said Veola Burchett, director of the diocesan Family Life office. Opening each day on the calendar is a physical way of counting down the days to Christ’s coming, she said.

Lighting the candles of the Advent wreath at the table each night also is an excellent family tradition, she said. "Children are fascinated by lit candles, and there are wonderful children’s prayers that go along with the wreath."

An Advent wreath is the simplest family activity, agreed Timothy Johnston, diocesan director of liturgy. The wreath is not only a symbol of hope and returning to the light, "but it’s a symbol that centers us in our prayer," he said. "It’s something simple to gather around ritually, which forms not only a tradition in the family itself but also connects to the tradition of what the parish family is doing from Sunday to Sunday. Doing familiar things year after year will help build a deeper appreciation of who Christ is in the midst of the whole assembly."

Once gathered around the wreath, the family could recite the prayer of the day, read Scripture, or sing an appropriate song such as ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, ’ he suggested.

In addition to having an Advent wreath, Burchett’s family also instituted a ‘Secret Santa’ during Advent, where each member of the family had one other member to whom they wrote anonymous kind notes each day.

"I still remember a beautiful one my son put in there," she said, recalling that her son was about 10 at the time. "It was ‘thank you for all the sips of water you give me,’ and his Biblical reference was the woman at the well."

The Secret Santa is not only an affirmation from someone in the family," she said, but it’s appropriate at Advent because "it’s a gratitude for those gifts that Christ has given us."

Some online resources for Advent activities follow.

Jesse Tree ornaments and related scripture verses. http://www.osv.com/Portals/0/images/pdf/JesseTree.pdf

Build a creche: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1099721/how_to_build_a_christmas_creche_indoor.html?cat=30

Advent Wreath Symbols 

The evergreen boughs of the wreath represent the Virgin Mary, who bore a son ‘Though she did not know man.’ Seed-filled pomegranates are a symbol of fertility, while garlic, a symbol of courage and strength, is used to ward off the enticements of the devil. The spines of artichokes safeguard its heart, making it a symbol of protection. The odor of lavender is symbolic of purity and integrity. Cinnamon, which once was so highly regarded that it was considered a gift fit for a king, is a symbol of forgiveness. The four candles symbolize the Evangelists who bring us the Good News of the Messiah, the Immanuel.