Help me, teach me, lead me guide me! Or just ramble a little bit, whatever.
Beyond doing, “Jotham’s Journey,” with the kids a few years ago (which my young brood really did love), I am Advent-impaired. It’s not a tradition I ever celebrated, nor have any churches I’ve ever been a part of. I’m trying to remember why I didn’t do it last year…I think it’s because I was completely overwhelmed with life as it was and was just trying to survive. We’d just moved into our 3rd house in the space of 6 months, among other things, and I think I’d reached my maxed out point. (You know it’s bad when you are a homeschool mom full of great educational ideas, yet you just HAPPILY JOYFULLY DELIGHTEDLY switched to Ace Paces, even though you actually hate Ace and his stupid Paces, too)…
I’m planning on doing Advent again this year, but this time since lectio is such a hit with the kids, we’re going to use selections from the Message Bible and our lit lectio candle (sent our way from my dear friend Ann) and construction paper, markers and scissors (so the kids can work on themed decorations while they listen). But there are these candle things (four candles, five candles, are they purple, are they pink, what,? I forget) that I need to get…and it’s not too late to get some ideas from the outside world, too, since I sort of feel like I’m just making this up anyway…
Posted by tonia on November 29, 2008 at 10:33 am
5 candles: 3 purple, 1 pink, a fat white one for the center.
(i can never find purple and pink candles on demand, so i’ve used blue and pink before too.)
put them in a circle with the white one in the middle.
(i use a greenery wreath and tuck the candles in but it doesn’t need to be elaborate at all.)
week one: light a purple candle every night and do your readings/prayer,
week two: two purple candles,
week three: two purples and a pink,
week four: all the candles.
christmas morning: all the candles plus the white one in the center (Jesus has come!)
we also do Ann’s Jesse Tree book. the kids love that.
we started doing advent 5 years ago and we LOVE it. it’s really one of our favorite times of year.
Posted by Scott M on November 29, 2008 at 10:44 am
When we first started, we got the purple and the pink candles backwards. We realized our error, but stuck with the way we were doing it.
Posted by molleth on November 29, 2008 at 11:24 am
That sounds like something I’d do, Scott.
Tonia, THANKS, sistah! That’s exactly what I needed. And I think that the Lyd has Ann’s Jesse Tree book…maybe I’ll take a look. I have a pine tree growing indoors, so was planning on using that (sorry, poor tree, for what you are about to have to endure)…
Posted by Diane on November 29, 2008 at 11:35 am
I am sure that if you google “Advent Wreath” you will be able to find the meaning for all the candles. I think the first one is prophesy…
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=45396
this might help
Posted by Laura on November 29, 2008 at 11:39 am
There are lyrics to “The Holly and the Ivy” to help remember what each candle stands for:
link
We light a candle every Sunday evening in Advent and have a Bible reading and prayer from an old Current stationery Advent devotional book. We also have a tradition of one new Christmas book or DVD each Sunday night in Advent — when my children were smaller I tried to stick with Bible-related books to a great extent. Sitting down to have a read-aloud (when they were little) or watch a Christmas show is something nice to enjoy together after the candles and prayers.
Best wishes,
Laura
Posted by Melinda on November 29, 2008 at 11:39 am
We also use the candles and wreath at home (and at church). Focus on different attributes of the faith each week (hope, joy, love, etc.). This year we’re going to pray specificially for a family member or issue each day. I think I’ll have each of the five children write out a few names down on index cards, then pick one each night when we’re at dinner (or at breakfast). We always use a little book that I bought years ago through Current stationary, it goes through the ABCs (Angels, Birth, Candles, Dream, etc., tells the Christmas story). We also love using the Adornments, choosing one each night. Those go on the tree and are names of Christ — Door, Lamb, Light of the World, etc., and goes over the Scripture for WHO He is. Have fun with it! It’s basically a time of preparation for the Holy Night we celebrate. We also do St. Nicholas Day (and night) to take some of the “presents” emphasis off of Dec. 25. I look forward to how you set up your own family traditions. Pray about He wants your family to remember His coming to earth. (but NONE of this is required or even contributes to our salvation — but it is a great teaching tool in our families and churches about growth in grace)
Posted by Laura on November 29, 2008 at 11:44 am
PS After reading Melinda’s note I see that Current stationery is a popular supplier of Advent materials!
We also celebrate St. Nicholas Day on a small scale. On the night of the 5th the children line their shoes in the Hallway and when they get up in the morning they find chocolate inside, such as a small See’s Santa. We also talk a little bit about the real St. Nicholas. There is a St. Nicholas website which has ideas on how to celebrate.
Best wishes,
Laura
Posted by bonnie on November 29, 2008 at 12:02 pm
What a great post, Molly, in that I’m delighted to learn about these traditions. So, advent is all December long? I would love to insert more depth and family time into the month/ Christmas celebration. The church we were attending had an advent service last year, with the ashes, but I’d never attended one and I really didn’t know what was going on…
Posted by truevyne on November 29, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Part of our family’s Advent includes each member of the family preparing a present for Jesus to be presented on Christmas day. Things we’ve done or thought about doing:
dance
poem
card
buying animals or 3rd world countries (goats, chickens)
song
coats for the cold
food for the hungry
By the way, pink is Mary’s candle so you might want to read the Magnificat or something else celebrating a woman’s part in Christmas (!) on the Sunday you light that candle.
Posted by April on November 29, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Keep going to that Episcopal church and you’ll be Advented thoroughly, Molly. And it will all be very proper, I’m sure.
Bonnie, it begins four Sundays before Christmas. Traditionally, purple was used because Advent was penitential — blue is used these days because not many are real fond of penance. (I kid, I kid…) The third Sunday was Gaudete Sunday/ Joy Sunday, a break in the penance, and was designated by pink back in the day. Traditionally, the candles were for hope, peace, joy, and love, but some also use each to represent prophets, shepherds, Mary, angel, etc…
We are figuring out how to celebrate it as a family since our kids are young and have small attention spans. We have an Advent calendar in the shape of a house that I got at Target last year that we use to count down the days. Last year I put chocolate in it, but this year, I’m organized enough that I cut out characters from nativity coloring sheets and put them behind each door. We will draw a stable on Sunday, Nov. 30 and then add the characters a little at a time — 3 palm trees, 1 cow, 3 shepherds and 3 sheep, 1 angel, 3 camels and 3 wisemen, Mary and Joseph, 4 stars, and baby Jesus on Christmas eve. We also have an Advent wreath, but we won’t have it lit long. And, I have a basket of Christmas/ Advent stories that I’ll be reading the kids each night.
For me as an adult, I personally like the discipline of preparing through the lectionary readings for each day. There’s a basic daily office here from the Episcopalians, no less, so you know it’s right.
again Our church also puts out an Advent devotional for each day with meditations written by members of the congregation. I’ll be using it and lighting our Advent wreath each night. My husband is finishing his MBA this semester and will be in survival mode, I think. We’ll see what he comes up with.
Some day I’d like to do a Jesse tree. Ann V. has some really neat ideas for that, I think.
I hope whatever you end up with will end up preparing your spirit to receive Christ again. Sometimes I think my expectations for greatness from myself end up being a desperate attempt to create holiness instead of seeking. But Advent at its most basic is about making ready our hearts. Whether that involves paste and scissors or just hugs and kisses matters not, in the end, I think.
Share where you arrive, ok? I’ll look forward to reading about it.
Posted by Maureen E on November 29, 2008 at 3:16 pm
When I was young, we always had an Advent wreath and sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” while we lit the candles. One of my favorite Advent memories.
Posted by Deborah on November 29, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Although I have sometimes sought out other traditions to do readings, I’ve not yet settled into any advent anything (I didn’t even know advent existed growing up). In looking around for something perhaps suitable to this year, I found what looks like a good and basic idea for families with kids:
http://www.americanbible.org/brcpages/AdventActivities
Posted by Kievas on November 29, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I never did much about advent, but our daughter has made her own Advent calendar this year. Maybe we’ll do the candles if we’re organized enough
Posted by wysiwyg on November 29, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Here is a link for you. She homeschools but I’m sure a lot of her ideas would work for anyone. She has a ton- look in her archives.
http://www.bysunandcandlelight.com
Posted by wysiwyg on November 29, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Ok here is a better link. The other one is not her right address. You can delete the previous post if you’d like.
This gal homeschools but her ideas could work for anyone. She has a ton of ideas for the litugical year.
http://www.dawnathome.typepad.com/
Posted by Emily on November 29, 2008 at 9:44 pm
For anyone who is interested in Advent wreaths, why/how Advent wreaths can be done, and why some churches use purple candles, or purple and 1 pink, or blue, or blue and 1 pink – my liturgical hubby just wrote a post on that:
http://pastorstrey.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/advent-wreath-101/
Happy Advent!
~ Emily
Posted by laura on November 29, 2008 at 11:23 pm
“When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming.” CCC #524
I am so excited to see an interest in celebrating the liturgical year- it can enrich your life on so many levels. We do the Advent wreath and the Jesse Tree.
I have some Advent calendars I would happy to give you- you can call me @ 335-1558. ( I’m the Connections mom of 8 that you convinced to buy an Ergo.) Oh, CCC above is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Happy Advent!
Posted by Jeannine on November 30, 2008 at 7:14 am
Here in Germany the Advent wreath is one of the traditions almost everyone follows (although, I’m afraid, many people have forgotten the meaning of it). We only use four candles and traditionally they are all red as far as I know. So our wreath has four big red candles. There are also some traditional German songs for Advent that are sung at church about the coming of Christ.
Posted by molleth on November 30, 2008 at 10:21 am
What fun great and encouraging ideas, everyone! Whoohooo, now I’m fully energized to do this thing without trepidation (or feeling like I’m faking it, since it sounds like there is no “right way” necessarily-ha!).
(laura, no way!? I’ll call later today! Thanks!).
Posted by Ann Voskamp on November 30, 2008 at 11:46 am
Molly,
You can find the Jesse Tree Advent book for children as a download here:
http://www.school4jesus.com/The-Glorious-Coming.html
I’m glad the little candle blessed you and yours, friend…
Let’s keep leaning into Him and His heart…
Ann
Posted by NormalMiddle on November 30, 2008 at 11:57 am
Well since I took my advent blog down, i have lost a ton of great links…still could kick myself for that but hey, que sera sera, right?
Keep it SIMPLE. In our family this year with me working it is going to mainly be dinner by candlelight on Sundays when we light the new candle and read the devotional for the week. Kids love eating by candlelight.
My “wreath” is so simple. It is a platter on my dining room table with 4 votives around it , 3 purple, 1 pink (for gaudete sunday) ,and a white christ candle in the center. Deck it with greenery and viola! The candles flickering looks really neat with the crystal platter, by the way.
I have Ann Voskamp’s The Glorious Coming and I LOVE IT but I don’t think we’ll do it this year since it was always a part of my homeschool curriculum. I think it would make me too sad
sounds silly, I guess, but I have found that avoiding some of my homeschool routines helps me cope with working again.
Love you Molls. By the way, I think I might be blogging again one day soon.
Posted by Ann Voskamp on November 30, 2008 at 12:25 pm
(P.S. I just organized all of the old blog posts that became the Jesse Tree book: The Glorious Coming, so you can read most of them online in the archives here — maybe that helps someone?
http://www.aholyexperience.com/search/label/Jesse%20Tree
and if a print copy is preferred there’s the download again– all personal proceeds are donated to Operation Christmas Child:
http://www.school4jesus.com/The-Glorious-Coming.html )
NormalMiddle — big hug. I’m with you: keep it simple. And do as Father leads you…
All’s grace,
Ann
Posted by Hippimama on November 30, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I’m so thrilled to have found this lovely blog, Molly. Your experiences are not mine, but many of your concerns are. I so appreciate your commitment to living intentionally, thoughtfully and lovingly in the midst of difficulty… you really are an inspiration.
As Episcopalians Advent is a pretty big deal to us. We’ve done an Advent wreath, and readings in the past, but over the last couple of years we have gotten out of that routine — something I hope to return to someday when I’m more organized. Instead we celebrate St. Nicholas with a service at church — the children leave their shoes outside the sacristy during the service and the older teens fill them with oranges and candy. Because our family is ethnically Swedish, we also celebrate St. Lucia, the patron saint of Sweden, on December 13 — a lovely “light in the darkness” festival — traditionally the eldest girl in the house wears a wreath of candles on her head and serves coffee and saffron bread to the family. Our children all look forward to this day each year, to eating saffron bread and singing the special Lucia song.
This year I’d like to focus more on the penitential aspects of Advent. I’m not sure we’ll do much fasting, but maybe we’ll simplify our meals and read through something devotional….
Posted by TulipGirl » Blog Archive » Advent at Our House on November 30, 2008 at 2:19 pm
[...] to gather in one place what Advent looks like in our home for a reference for the future and for those who are curious. What we do changes each year, and so I’ll share what we’re doing this [...]
Posted by Scott on December 1, 2008 at 8:32 am
YAY!! Since I think wordpress rocks I am always happy to see someone transitioning from one of the lame-o platforms to the far superior wordpress, although I like to roll my own as opposed to using WordPress.com.
Good for y’all
Scott
Posted by bonnie on December 2, 2008 at 6:54 am
We did it! We started a day late, and I had to buy candles and holders, so I’m out $20, but it was worth it. We don’t have greenery in the desert, so we used pine cones to put all around the platter & candles. The “wreath” is beautiful, and it was so nice to actually sit around after dinner and talk & teach. My son made up a tune and sang The Holly and the Ivy, and he’s excited about doing that every week. Next year I’d love to do a daily thing, but I wasn’t prepared this year! My question is, if we light the candle each night, it’ll burn out too soon! We can do like NormalMiddle and light it only on Sundays, but I was hoping top have the reminder *all* week…any suggestions?
Posted by molleth on December 2, 2008 at 8:58 am
Bonnie, the pine cone wreath sounds so cool! I bought big pillar candles, because we had that problem when we did the candle thing a few years back, too. This time, they’ll last this year and probably the next five.
I don’t have a wreath yet…I have the pillar candles (of varying heights) all sitting on a big pottery plate, so it looks cool…I’ll add branches to it when we get our tree, I think.
I have really appreciated the encouragement and the ideas! Probably the biggest thing has been just hearing that there are a MILLION ways to do this “Advent” thing. That helped me relax and just be my typical ecclectic self, pulling a little from here, a little from there…
We’ve had fun, these past two Advent days… Actually, yesterday was a full and hectic day and I was unbelievably dog-tired by the time it was bedtime for the kids, so I was going to skip it…and got read the riot act for DARING to skip an Advent night! So apparently the kids have gotten attached, quickly.
Posted by Jae on December 2, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Hi friend, just got back from the K Library and while perusing the childrens section Christmas books I came across one called Countdown to Christmas. By Susan O’Keefe. About Advent and suggested prayers and such. It is in the holiday section.
Posted by molleth on December 2, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Hey, Jae, I stopped by the library today per your recommendation and nabbed that very title.
Posted by Leigh Ann on December 3, 2008 at 10:07 am
wet
get
Two dogs get wet.
Posted by Headless Unicorn Guy on December 3, 2008 at 12:14 pm
What a great post, Molly, in that I’m delighted to learn about these traditions. So, advent is all December long? — Bonnie
Yes, Bonnie & Molleth. The four weeks before Christmas, starting the last Sunday of November. Just as Christmas originally wasn’t one day (Dec 25) but a twelve-day party lasting until Epiphany/Twelfth Night.
Here’s the comment I made in Internet Monk’s Advent thread last year:
(Didn’t Chesterton’s Father Brown make a point that “There is no torment in Hell as terrible as Constant Forced Cheerfulness” in the story “Three Tools of Death”?)
Advent: Four weeks of quiet preparation, resting up for the twelve-day party from Christmas to Epiphany. Makes a lot more sense than…
Current Xmas: Two-three months of rushing around, shopping, partying, and being subject to cheezy Xmas songs, cheezy TV specials, and Constant Forced Cheerfulness until by the time December 25th comes around, you’re too burned out to enjoy anything. (Oh, and you’re expected back at work on the 26th.) I have heard that the divorce, domestic violence, and depression rates all peak around this time of year. Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Burnout!
Posted by Headless Unicorn Guy on December 3, 2008 at 12:18 pm
And an adventure in cluelessness from this year’s Internet Monk Advent Thread:
I never heard of Advent until my senior year of high school, when I sold advent calendars (with pieces of Swiss chocolate behind the doors, and Luther quotes behind the chocolate) for German club. My Jewish teacher knew all about it-even gave me a book about it-a Lutheran or Presbyterian one, don’t remember. I told my (Southern Baptist pastor, a young one, 30 or so (this was 1995ish) and he said Advent was this liberal Satanic thing done by witches… — Kevin C
Posted by molleth on December 3, 2008 at 2:46 pm
HA. Great great points. And THANKS. Because I’ve always been confused, until literally just now reading your comment, about why in the world anyone would look forward to a 12 day Christmas-to-Epiphany celebration. That makes total sense, though, now that you’ve explained it.
And a big fat, “Yeah” about your commentary on all the rush-rush-rush aspects of Christmas (and it was no different working for the church—actually, it was worse in some ways). You are so right on…
This Christmas season promises to be pretty mellow around here. Only one Christmas program to go to, and since it’s only one, I’m actually looking forward to it-ha.
And I’m too broke to even worry about presents. It’s going to be a very light gift-year. Very light. I’m also usually a huge card person, with pictures and a family letter and a card going to at least 60 or so people, and I’m not doing that this year either. Just can’t. I’m planning on sending school pictures out to a few main relatives, and that is IT. And, what’s even more strange, I don’t even feel guilty about it (I’m working to stop “should-ing” all over myself, and apparently it must be working-lol)…
(I love the internet monk… Ah, some of his essays kept me sane while I was deconstructing from fundamentalism, I tell ya)…
Posted by Deborah on December 3, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Headless Unicorn Guy–LOL (but perhaps I should be crying)
Posted by TG on December 3, 2008 at 8:59 pm
” Actually, yesterday was a full and hectic day and I was unbelievably dog-tired by the time it was bedtime for the kids, so I was going to skip it…and got read the riot act for DARING to skip an Advent night! So apparently the kids have gotten attached, quickly.”
*L* Yup. That’s kids–holding to ritual and routine. (And, I think that is good for us!) But, that’s also one of the reasons we use the advent calendar we use — it gives them the daily-daily aspect, without relying on my (fallible) consistency.
“Probably the biggest thing has been just hearing that there are a MILLION ways to do this “Advent” thing. That helped me relax and just be my typical ecclectic self. . .”
*hug* Isn’t that a good thing?
Posted by Headless Unicorn Guy on December 4, 2008 at 9:33 am
(I love the internet monk… Ah, some of his essays kept me sane while I was deconstructing from fundamentalism, I tell ya)… — Molleth
I discovered him three-four years ago. Guy’s got his head screwed on pretty straight.
There’s a LOT of whack-jobs out there (and since the stock market melted down, they’re all named John Galt). My writing partner — a burned-out preacher-man from rural PA — has a favorite quote from one of the Desert Fathers about times like this:
“There will come a time when men will go mad. And they will lay hands on the sane among them, saying ‘You are NOT like us! You MUST be mad!’”
Headless Unicorn Guy–LOL (but perhaps I should be crying) — Deborah
If you’re talking about the clueless Baptist preacher-man/Witchfinder-General, all I can say is “Thank You Mike Warnke. And John Todd. And Constance Cumby. And Bob Larson. And all the others who gave us the Satanic Panic of the Eighties. You’ve trashed Halloween for all of us and now you’re starting on Advent.”
Posted by acme on December 8, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Prayer For a New Mother
The things she knew, let her forget again-
The voices in the sky, the fear, the cold,
The gaping shepherds, and the queer old men
Piling their clumsy gifts of foreign gold.
Let her have laughter with her little one;
Teach her the endless, tuneless songs to sing,
Grant her her right to whisper to her son
The foolish names one dare not call a king.
Keep from her dreams the rumble of a crowd,
The smell of rough-cut wood, the trail of red,
The thick and chilly whiteness of the shroud
That wraps the strange new body of the dead.
Ah, let her go, kind Lord, where mothers go
And boast his pretty words and ways, and plan
The proud and happy years that they shall know
Together, when her son is grown a man.
Dorothy Parker