The Twelve Days of Christmas series Day 5 Decorations -Put on love.

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SERIES

THE CHRISTMAS SCENE: 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS  ICON.

Day 5 Decorations -Put on love.

During Advent, our local supermarket put out their magazine with recipe ideas and of course how we can spend our money at their store in preparation for Christmas. One of their articles the 12 days of Christmas disappointed me because they had used the carol' The Twelve Days of Christmas' and used it to mean the twelve days before Christmas. Not the twelve days after Christmas- Christmastide.  Obviously, there is more money to be made before Christmas than after for a supermarket.
 
In my twelve days of Christmas series, I quote from the article 'Fresh Food Kids' and then add a spiritual connection to help us remain in the season of Christmastide.  Christmas is not just a day as the shops would like us to believe.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

DAY 5: DECORATIONS AND 'PUT ON LOVE'.

ACTIVITY: TO MAKE DECORATIONS

"Preparation time= 10 minutes.  Makes about 36.

Sift 5 and half cups pure icing sugar into a large bowl and stir in 4 cups Home Brand Desiccated Coconut. Pour in a 395grams can sweetened condensed milk and I teaspoon of vanilla essence. Divide mixture in half and add a a few drops red food colouring to one portion and mix until combined Roll into balls.
To decorate, tie each with ribbon to resemble a tree decoration or wrap 6 balls in cellophane and tie with ribbon. These can be hung on the tree and given as gifts"
The article notes that you can simply add the food colouring of your choice to the mixture and knead until smooth.

 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: 'PUT ON LOVE'

Either before or after the children make their coconut ice baubles decorations, you may wish to reflect on scripture Colossians 3:12-14
'Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
And above all these put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony"

The verses before and after this are also applicable and could also be read.

As the children listen and discuss this scripture, they might like to learn this scripture by heart. You may also wish to link it with what they have learnt about the virtues from Day 4.  Just as there are ingredients of the coconut ice mixture which need to be kneaded, there are ingredients in growing closer to God which need to be kneaded into our lives. Just as the coconut ice needs to be rolled into balls, we too knead our spiritual ingredients as scripture tells us 'put on love'.

However, we do not make our 'spiritual coconut ice decorations' for ourselves, we tie them together and give them as decorations and presents for others to see and to give thanks to God. You might like to offer the following prayer or a spontaneous one of our own on  how we may 'put on love' during this year.

Jesus, just as coconut ice is made up of ingredients,
we need to learn to knead into our lives the spiritual ingredients.
Help us to learn how to knead these ingredients
roll them and tie them together as we 'put on love' 
so that all whom we meet may give You the glory.

Compendium Series: the Symbols of Faith.

COMPENDIUM SERIES: THE SYMBOLS OF FAITH.

So now we start another section:

Section 2 chapter 1 which is called 'I believe in God the Father- the symbols of faith.'

33. What are the symbols of faith? (CCC 185-186,192,197)

Compendium states:

The symbols of faith are composite formulas, also called ‘professions of faith” or “Creeds”, with which the Church from her very beginning has set forth synthetically and handed on her own faith in a language that is normative and common to all the faithful.

What does this mean for me?

'Every morning I put on your clothes to cover your nakedness and protect your body from inclement weather. Why don't you also clothe your soul with the garment of faith? Remember each morning the truths of your creed, and look at yourself in the mirror of your faith. Otherwise, your soul will soon be naked with the nakedness of oblivion'.

-- St. Augustine (taken from ewtn.com)

Questions to consider

1.             What are the symbols of faith- the composite formulas which make up my faith?

2.             How can I hand on my faith to others?

The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 4 Santa Sack- The Virtues

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas Scene  The 12 Days of Christmas series.icon.

Day 4 Santa Sack- The Virtues
 

During Advent, our local supermarket put out their magazine with recipe ideas and  of course how we can spend our money at their store in preparation for Christmas. One of their articles the 12 days of Christmas disappointed me because they had used the carol' The Twelve Days of Christmas' and used it to mean the twelve days before Christmas. Not the twelve days after Christmas- Christmastide.  Obviously, there is more money to be made before Christmas than after for a supermarket.
  
In my twelve days of Christmas series, I quote from the article 'Fresh Food Kids' and then add a spiritual connection to help us remain in the season of Christmastide.  Christmas is not just a day as the shops would like us to believe.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

DAY 4: SANTA SACK AND THE VIRTUES.

ACTIVITY: TO MAKE A SANTA SACK

"You need felt or fabric, Woolworths Home Essentials Burgundy Pillow Case, glue needle, thread, bells and ribbon. Cut start shapes from fabric, arrange onto pillow cases and glue in place. Sew on bells. Tie ribbon at the top of the case so presents don't fall out".

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: BEING GOOD FOR GOD AND THE VIRTUES

Either before or after the children make their Santa sack, remind the children of the tradition that Santa only comes to children who have been good all the year.  Then help them to reflect on the virtues (see my virtue series) as a way of teaching them to be good for God and to grow spiritually throughout the year.

As the children learn about the virtues, they might like to put a parcel representing the virtues in the sack that they have made.  Then as a family, you might like to encourage each other to learn about and practice one virtue each month, (in an age appropriate manner). You might like to offer the following prayer or a spontaneous one of our own on being good Children of God all the year.

Jesus, we desire to be good for You. 
help us to grow in Your likeness and to practice the virtues  

so that our 'inner Santa sack' will be filled to overflowing.

About the Mass series:Preparation of the Gifts Part 7

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES 

THE MASS: ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2

LORD GOD, WE ASK YOU …’.

One of the private prayers that entered the preparation rite during the Middle Ages is the ‘In Spiritu  humilitatis’. Its text is:

‘We now have no leader, no prophet, no prince, no burnt offering, no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense, no place where we can make offerings to you and win your favour. But may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit, be as acceptable to you as burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, as thousands of fat lambs: such let our sacrifice be to you today, and may it please you that we follow you whole-heartedly, since those who trust in you will not be shamed’. (Daniel 3:38-40)

It was prayed by Azariah who, missing the sacrifices of the temple, realised that it was the spiritual sacrifice which best pleases God.  

The prayer used in the Mass today is:

‘Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts’.

The prayer was made obligatory with the Missal of Pius V (1570).  Being a private prayer of the priest, it is usually recited inaudibly or sotto voce (in a soft voice). The priest bows and says this prayer:

In other words, the priest requests that the future offering made in the Eucharistic prayer, animated by the spiritual sacrifices of the heart, be favourably received by God.

We can join the priest as he offers this prayer by making it our own.  We can offer our own pain and difficulties of life to God.  The prayer stance of the Publican ‘Lord be merciful to me a sinner’ (Lk 18:13) could also provide us with further reflective thoughts when linked with this prayer

The Twelve Days of Christmas Series: Day 3 Cards-The Message of Christmas

During Advent, our local supermarket put out their magazine with recipe ideas and of course how we can spend our money at their store in preparation for Christmas. One of their articles the 12 days of Christmas disappointed me because they had used the carol' The Twelve Days of Christmas' and used it to mean the twelve days before Christmas. Not the twelve days after Christmas- Christmastide.  Obviously, there is more money to be made before Christmas than after for a supermarket.

In my twelve days of Christmas series, I quote from the article 'Fresh Food Kids' and then add a spiritual connection to help us remain in the season of Christmastide.  Christmas is not just a day as the shops would like us to believe.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

DAY 3: CARDS AND THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS 

ACTIVITY: TO MAKE CARDS

" You need a green scouring pad, scissors, glue, a set of plain cards or cardboard, a pin, a bracelet making set with letters and star stickers.  Draw the outline of a Christmas tree onto a scourer and cut out. Stick scourer onto a card. Using a pin, make 4 holes, on one side of the tree, about 1cm apart (one on top of the other) and then do the same on the other side.  With the bracelet making kit, thread the letters ’Merry ' onto the string and thread the ends through the top set of holes.  Secure by twisting the ends together inside the card.  Now make the word 'Christmas' and thread through the lower holes.  To finish, add a start sticker at the top of the tree."

Instead of a Christmas tree, you may wish to encourage to design their own religious theme card- a manger scene for example. The custom of sending Christmas cards started in Britain in 1840 when the first 'Penny Post' public postal deliveries began. (Helped by the new railway system, the public postal service was the 19th century's communication revolution, just as email is for us today.) As printing methods improved, Christmas cards were produced in large numbers from about 1860. They became even more popular in Britain when a card could be posted in an unsealed envelope for one half-penny - half the price of an ordinary letter.

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

Either before or after the children make their cards, help them to reflect on why traditionally, Christmas cards showed religious pictures - Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, or other parts of the Christmas story.

Although there are plenty of other pictures on cards, it is better to keep Christ in Christmas since Jesus is the reason for the season.

You also may wish to discuss the importance of sending a card with an appropriate Christmas message A homemade card is unique and it helps the card maker think about the person for whom the card is made. It helps them focus on what the important themes of Christmas are and what is in our hearts.

As the children read out their Christmas message, you might like to offer the following prayer or a spontaneous one of our own on the message of Christmas.

Jesus, as we read our card, we desire Peace, Joy and Good Will to all

in this season of Christmastide, help us to give it to all we meet.

May the message of Christmas stay with us throughout the whole year.

You might like to finish Day 3 with your favourite Christmas Carol

which expresses the message of Christmas to you.

The Twelve Days of Christmas Day 2: Candles- The Light of the Word.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas Scene The Twelve Days of Christmas Icon.

Day 2: Candles- The Light of the Word.

 During Advent, our local supermarket put their magazine with recipe ideas and of course how we can spend our money at their store in preparation for Christmas. One of their articles the 12 days of Christmas disappointed me because they had used the carol' The Twelve Days of Christmas' and used it to mean the twelve days before Christmas. Not the twelve days after Christmas- Christmastide.  Obviously, there is more money to be made before Christmas than after for a supermarket.

 
In my twelve days of Christmas series, I quote from the article 'Fresh Food Kids' and then add a spiritual connection to help us remain in the season of Christmastide.  Christmas is not just a day as the shops would like us to believe.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

DAY 2: CANDLES- THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

ACTIVITY: TO MAKE CANDLES

"You need a candle, cardboard or craft paper and a glitter pen.  Using card or paper cut out letters to spell 'Merry Xmas'. Decorate with glitter pens. Choose your candles, colour and height can be optional as long as letters can fit on them.  Stick Merry across the 4 candles, one letter for each candle apart from the letter R which both needs to go one candle. Repeat this with the word 'Xmas".

Well that is the secular idea given in the article.  However, why not encourage your children to steer away from the word ’Xmas" as it takes the Christ out of Christmas and place a more appropriate Christian Christmas message on their candle. You may wish to sit down with your children and ask them to name their top 5 favourite Christmas greetings, and then have a discussion of these answers to help give them in a Catholic/Christian influence.

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

Either before or after the children make their decorated candle, help them to reflect on the real meaning of the candle and why Jesus being the Light of the World is important at Christmas. Here we can turn to Scripture to help us.

Candles, lamps, light and flames represent the manifest presence of God as the Light of the World. With so many references to God being "light" in Scripture, representations of light such as candles, flames and lamps have become common symbols of Christianity:

1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (NIV)

John 8:12 
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (NIV)

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? (NIV)

Light represents the presence of God. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and to the Israelites in the pillar of flame. The eternal flame of God's presence was to be lit in the Temple in Jerusalem at all times. In fact, in the Jewish Feast of Dedication or "Festival of Lights" we remember the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Temple after being desecrated under Greco-Syrian captivity. Even though they only had enough sacred oil for one day, God miraculously causes the eternal flame of his presence to burn for eight days, until more purified oil could be processed.

Light also represents the direction and guidance of God. Psalm 119:105 says God's Word is a lamp to the feet and a light to our path. 2 Samuel 22 says the Lord is a lamp, turning darkness into light.

As the children light their decorated candle, you might like to offer the following prayer or a spontaneous one of our own on the theme of the light of the Word. 

Jesus, as we light this candle, we remember You- the Light of the World
in this season of Christmastide, help us to bathe in that glow of Your presence
to stay away from the darkness of sin
and to be a light shining the way to You for others.

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Day 1:The star of Bethlehem.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS-

Day 1: The star of Bethlehem.

A Christmas scene. 12 days of Christmas series icon.

Welcome to my 12 Days of Christmas Series Year A. 

During Advent, our local supermarket put their magazine with recipe ideas and of course how we can spend our money at their store in preparation for Christmas. One of their articles the 12 days of Christmas disappointed me because they had used the carol' The Twelve Days of Christmas' and used it to mean the twelve days before Christmas. Not the twelve days after Christmas- Christmastide.  Obviously, there is more money to be made before Christmas than after for a supermarket.

In my twelve days of Christmas series, I quote from their article 'Fresh Food Kids' and then add a spiritual connection to help us remain in the season of Christmastide.  Christmas is not just a day as the shops would like us to believe.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

DAY 1:THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM

ACTIVITY: TO MAKE A STAR TREE

"To make a Christmas inspired fruit desert, cut 1 cm thick slices from watermelon and pineapple. Using Wiltshire Little Chef Star Cutters, cut out shapes.  Arrange on top of each other starting with the largest. 

Top with a cherry.  The fruit stars can be frozen and added to punch as edible ice cubes.'

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: Matthew 2:1-12.

Either before or after the children make the star tree, we may wish to help them to reflect on the real meaning of the star and why it is important at Christmas. Here we can turn to Scripture- Matthew 2:1-12 to help us.

The star guided the 3 Wise Men from the East to Jesus and as both scripture and the carols say

'stopped right over the place where Jesus lay'.  

The wise men did Him homage. These wise men were highly intelligent and knew from their studies about astronomy and stars.  They knew that this star was different- important and special.We too need to be aware of the signs given in our life.

We might like to offer the following prayer or a spontaneous one of our own on the theme of the star of Bethlehem.  We might even like to sing the Carol ' the first Nowell' and/or 'We three Kings' 

Jesus, in  this season of Christmastide, help us to be a star- 

a light shining the way to You for others in our family, friends, neighbourhood and parish. 

Help us to be like the Wise men of the East 

and give You fitting homage.

As the carol says 'on the first day of Christmas, my true love said to me' . I hope that Jesus is our true love and that we are listening to what He says to me.

Opening Prayer Series: Feast of the Holy Family Year A

OPENING PRAYER SERIES:

THE MASS: OPENING PRAYER SERIES. ICON.

Feast of the Holy Family Year A

OPENING PRAYER
 

The Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family reads as follows:

Let us pray,

(for peace in our families)

Father,

help us to live as the holy family,

united in respect and love

Bring us to the joy and peace of Your eternal home.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS 

In making this prayer tangible the following reflection questions emerged

1.            What are the issues in my families which prevent or hinder God's peace?

2.            What steps will I take during this Christmastide to create an environment of change?

3.            What would living in respect and love in my family entail for me?

4.            How will I remember those family members who experience God's joy and peace in His eternal home this Christmastide?

5.            What would the joy and peace of God's eternal home be like?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

In Today's Gospel of Mathew, we encounter the flight into Egypt. Joseph is not a procrastinator.  He does what the angel tells him without delay ' He got up and taking the child and his mother with him left that night for Egypt.' One senses the urgency and the worry and the fear of knowing that Herod wanted Jesus killed- not the type of start to being the foster father of Jesus that Joseph may have hoped for.  Yet, Joseph as we know was a man of faith and believed in God's providence towards him and Mary. His faith and obedience to God sustained him in this difficult journey.

So what about us?  Are we just as attentive to what God is telling us to do? Are we as pro-active and responsive as Joseph?  As we read this gospel, we might like to consider the families across the world who live in fear of death, and/or flee their country to seek safety. We pray that God's providence will sustain them and when we are in a difficult situation, we will be obedient to what God asks of us.

Should you wish to reflect upon the alternative Opening Prayer, you may wish to revisit my post of December 27 09- Feast of the Holy Family. 

Reflection and Prayer Series: Christmas

REFLECTION AND PRAYER SERIES:

 

Christ the Redeemer

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

CHRISTMAS

Christmas

Hymns have tried to capture all its wonder;

Books of wisdom leave it unexplained,

Paintings have attempted to portray it,

But its meaning will forever be contained 

In the words a mother whispered by a manger

A word she heard God's angel first proclaim

JESUS

all the shining glory of Christmas 

The Jesse Tree Series: Chi Rho Christmas Day

THE JESSE TREE SERIES:

What does Christmas Day entail for our Jesse tree?

THE SON OF GOD

SCRIPTURE: John 1:1-18. 

As we complete our Jesse Tree Series, it is though we are back to the beginning. This passage starts with 'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God...' At the beginning of our Jesse Tree series we focused on God and Creation. This passage completes the cycle, since our focus once again is on the person of God. This time however, the birth of Christ, His Son brings to fruition the promises made through the prophets to send the Messiah who would save them from their sins.

THE PERSON: SON OF GOD.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.  He humbled himself to be born of a woman-Mary, in order that humanity may be saved from their sins. He is the Anointed One, chosen to place humanity at rights again with God.

He was the One whose reign will never end from the descendant of the King of David.

THE EVENT/THEME: THE SON OF GOD:  During our reflection time today, let us ponder on the theme of the Son of God.

We may wish to

1.            Offer a prayer of gratefulness for His birth so that we may be saved.

2.            Rediscover the delights of the Christmas story.

3.            Make a practical commitment: As today's theme is the Son of God, we may wish to:

o        Listen, read and hear the Christmas story with fresh ears and discover a fresh insight. Ask Jesus who saved you to point you to this insight.

o        Make time to visit the manger and ponder there each day during Christmastide season.

SYMBOL 28: CHI RHO SYMBOL

Let us remember all the characters of the Christmas story.  Let us welcome Jesus into our lives and worship the Son of God as we prepare our twenty eighth symbol (twenty-seven cut out symbol) and place it on the tree.

This now concludes the Jesse Tree Series. I hope that by focusing on the scripture, person, events/themes and symbol teach day during Advent hat you may have gained a greater understanding of the Jesse Tree story.

May I wish all my readers my brothers and sisters in Christ

a very happy Christmas.

Remember Christmas is not just a day

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.