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TEACHING THE SUNDAYS OF ADVENT
What is Advent?
Just as Great Lent is a preparation for Easter, Advent is a 40‑day period for reflection and self‑examination in preparation for Christmas. Advent means "coming" in at least three senses: 1) the coming of the Messiah in the flesh, to be celebrated at Christmas; 2) the coming of Christ in Word and Spirit, to be pondered throughout the Church year; and 3) the coming of Christ in glory at the end of time.
Each year Advent begins on November 27 and extends to Armenian Christmas, January 6. It is a time for fasting, prayer, Scripture reading, and church attendance ‑- all intended to help us understand the full meaning of Christ's coming.
The following is an activity you can do with your class each week through Advent. Each Sunday hold a candle lighting ceremony with an explanation of the significance of the color, look at a Bible reading, sing a Christmas Carol, and share a few thoughts for students to meditate on.
Materials needed:
1. A large Styrofoam wreath in which there should be space for seven candles.
2. Evergreen branches to be spread around the wreath.
3. Six candles of these colors: green, blue, gold, white, red, purple. (If you can't find color candles, use white ones and tie them with appropriately colored ribbons.)
4. One large candle. .
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: November 27
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 4
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 11
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 18
FIFTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 25
SIXTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: January 1
CHRISTMAS DAY
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: November 27
1. Explain what Advent is and introduce the meaning of the wreath which should be placed in a prominent place in your Assembly room. The circle of the wreath is a Christian symbol for God, who is eternal, without beginning or end, perfect, and complete. The evergreen branches symbolize immortality and eternal life and the candles represent Christ who is the light of the world. The color of each candle -- all liturgical colors -- expresses something special that will be discussed each Sunday of Advent.
2. Have a student come forward and light the green candle, which signifies faith. Explain that the green candle reminds us of the faith we have that God will keep his promise to send his Son.
3. Read the following Scripture: The Prophecy of Isaiah 9:2, 6‑7; 40:3‑5; 52:7.
4. Sing the Christmas Carol, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
5. An appropriate message would talk about how God kept his promise to send the Messiah. Think about what other promises God makes. Does he keep them?
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 4
1. Have a student light the candle from last Sunday and review the significance of the color.
2. Light the blue candle which signifies hope. Explain that the blue candle reminds us of the hope we have that Christ will come again this year to bring new joy into our lives.
3. Read the following Scripture: The Promise from Luke 1:5‑31.
4. Sing the Christmas Carol, "Joy to the World."
5. An appropriate message would talk about how Christ came to bring joy and to make our joy complete. Think about how he brings joy into our hearts today. Why should the Christian be joyful?
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 11
1. Begin with the lighting of the first two candles and review the significance of the colors.
2. Light the gold candle which signifies love. Explain that the gold candle reminds us of the words of St. John when he said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son."
3. Read the following Scripture: The Annunciation in Luke 1:26‑38.
4. Sing the Christmas Carol, "O Come All Ye Faithful."
5. In your message, talk about the life of St. Nicholas, who was known for his great generosity in distributing gifts and money to the poor. He preferred to disguise himself and deliver his gifts after dark so that no one would know he had left them. Think about how we can follow his example in giving gifts to others this Christmas.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 18
1. Begin with the lighting of the first three candles and review the significance of the colors.
2. Light the white candle which represents peace. Explain that the white candle reminds us of the angel's message to the shepherds, "Peace on earth and good will among people."
3. Read the following Scripture: The Journey to Bethlehem in Luke 2:1-18.
4. Sing the Christmas Carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
5. In your message, mention this is a time for us to think about the relationships in our lives that need repairing. Is there someone who has something against us? Do we have something against someone? Whom do we need to forgive? The Prince of Peace is coming. In order to be prepared, we must forgive and be forgiven.
FIFTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: December 25
1. Begin with lighting the first four candles and reviewing the significance of the colors.
2. Light the purple candle which signifies repentance. Explain that the purple candle reminds us of our need to repent (ask for forgiveness) before we can met the coming Christ. Before Christmas, we should try to make our spiritual lives right again.
3. Read the following Scripture: Preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah through repentance in Mark 1:1‑8, 14‑15.
4. In a message, discuss the sacrament of Penance. Let us prepare ourselves with a thorough self‑examination and agree on a time to go to confession as a group.
SIXTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: January 1
1. Begin with the lighting of the first five candles and review the significance of the colors.
2. Light the red candle which signifies Holy Communion. Explain that the red candle reminds us that Christ, who came in Bethlehem and who will come again at the end of time, comes to us now in the sacrament of Holy Communion. The reason he was born in Bethlehem was that we might allow him to come and be born in the manger of our hearts.
3. Read the following Scripture: The coming of the Word of God in John 1:18 and his coming in the Eucharist in John 6:52‑58.
4. Speak about the meaning of Holy Communion.
CHRISTMAS DAY
1. Begin with the lighting of the six candles and review the significance of each.
2. As you light the large candle, which represents Christ, say, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and his name shall be called Wonderful."
3. Read the following Scripture: The Christmas story in Luke 2:1‑7.
4. Sing the Christmas Carol, "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing."
5. Attend liturgy and receive Holy Communion.