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An Irish Christmas Blessing
God grant news lightness in your step, A smile on every face you meet, Loved ones gathered at your hearth, and at your door, good friends to greet A holy hymn upon your lips, a window candles burning bright, and may the good Lord bless your heart and Come to dwell there Christmas night |
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Advent at St. John Fisher
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This Advent season we would like to offer simple opportunities for you and your family to grow your faith. We live the call to be holy every day by how we love, forgive, sacrifice, act, and grow. With that thought mind, we are providing you with a list of suggestions that you can share and complete as a family, or share and complete with relatives that you may not be able to see in person this season. As we move toward Christmas and celebrate the incarnation of our Lord, let us try during these challenging times to make an effort to focus on the hope and joy found in simple activities. Let us not forget that our heavenly Father holds us close and will never abandon us.
Please send us pictures that we can post of you and your family celebrating this Advent season.
Please send us pictures that we can post of you and your family celebrating this Advent season.
Week 1 "Be Watchful, be alert!'
Holy Traditions
At its core, Advent is a season of hope, preparation and joy. Celebrating Advent should not create stress or make you feel overwhelmed. Take a moment today as we begin our Advent preparation and think of one tradition when you already celebrate family. Brainstorm as a family how you might simply adapt this tradition so that it more fully prepares you for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
For example:
Lighting the Advent wreath – after lighting the candle have each person in the family share what they are thankful for today. You may want to keep a journal and then go back and reflect on your blessings Christmas Eve. Use this link if you are in need of advent wreath prayers.
If you do not have a wreath, try this
Have each member of your family make Christmas paper chains out of red and green paper. Write the name of a different person on each piece of paper. As you take the links off the chain say a prayer for the person and keep the names in a basket. By the end of Advent, your basket will be overflowing!
Make a Jesse tree this year. You can do it as a family adding different ornaments each week. Invite grandparents or cousins to make one as well and share your progress. Instructions and links old Testament passages can be found by clicking here:
At its core, Advent is a season of hope, preparation and joy. Celebrating Advent should not create stress or make you feel overwhelmed. Take a moment today as we begin our Advent preparation and think of one tradition when you already celebrate family. Brainstorm as a family how you might simply adapt this tradition so that it more fully prepares you for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
For example:
Lighting the Advent wreath – after lighting the candle have each person in the family share what they are thankful for today. You may want to keep a journal and then go back and reflect on your blessings Christmas Eve. Use this link if you are in need of advent wreath prayers.
If you do not have a wreath, try this
Have each member of your family make Christmas paper chains out of red and green paper. Write the name of a different person on each piece of paper. As you take the links off the chain say a prayer for the person and keep the names in a basket. By the end of Advent, your basket will be overflowing!
Make a Jesse tree this year. You can do it as a family adding different ornaments each week. Invite grandparents or cousins to make one as well and share your progress. Instructions and links old Testament passages can be found by clicking here:
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Family Question – What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming to your house in an hour? Outside Action – Take a walk this week as a family. Have each find a “treasure” that brings you joy or peace and share with each other when you get home. |
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Watch – Where will you find unexpected joy this week? Be alert!
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Week 2: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths."
ly Traditions
As we focus on preparation this week continue offer usual traditions as a means of service to our Lord.
For example:
Attend Mass virtually, but as a family have each person write out their personal intentions that you can share after Father reads the Prayers of the Faithful.
Try to make a point of having dinner as a family this week. Here is a resource for some great family prayers.
Christmas cookies – while baking the holiday treats, say a prayer for those who may be hungry for the fruits of your labor. Be thankful this year in particular that we are able to continue to break bread as families even if our typical social gatherings are smaller.
Cook together – connect with family members virtually to have a gingerbread decorating contest. Points are awarded based on creativity, appearance, best use of candy . . .
Christmas decorating – say a blessing over your tree once you have it decorated. Be sure to take time and share with one another favorite ornaments, memories and history of family heirlooms. As you decorate the inside and outside of your house be sure to include some treats for all God’s creatures such as peanut butter and bird seed covered pinecones.
As we focus on preparation this week continue offer usual traditions as a means of service to our Lord.
For example:
Attend Mass virtually, but as a family have each person write out their personal intentions that you can share after Father reads the Prayers of the Faithful.
Try to make a point of having dinner as a family this week. Here is a resource for some great family prayers.
Christmas cookies – while baking the holiday treats, say a prayer for those who may be hungry for the fruits of your labor. Be thankful this year in particular that we are able to continue to break bread as families even if our typical social gatherings are smaller.
Cook together – connect with family members virtually to have a gingerbread decorating contest. Points are awarded based on creativity, appearance, best use of candy . . .
Christmas decorating – say a blessing over your tree once you have it decorated. Be sure to take time and share with one another favorite ornaments, memories and history of family heirlooms. As you decorate the inside and outside of your house be sure to include some treats for all God’s creatures such as peanut butter and bird seed covered pinecones.
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As you set up the nativity think about: Who would you want to be? What was Mary thinking? What gift would you bring the baby Jesus? Download this prayer for setting up the creche. Make your own nativity (click on image for instructions). |
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Read -
Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale
Family Question – What can you do to prepare for the birth of Jesus?
Outside Action – take five minutes this week to watch the sun set. Take the time watch the sky, notice the silhouettes of the trees. Have each person use three words to describe the beauty of what they witnessed and how they felt.
Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale
Family Question – What can you do to prepare for the birth of Jesus?
Outside Action – take five minutes this week to watch the sun set. Take the time watch the sky, notice the silhouettes of the trees. Have each person use three words to describe the beauty of what they witnessed and how they felt.
Week 3: "Rejoice!"
Holy Traditions:
Take time this week to listen. Silence your phone, close your computer, keep the television off. Have a conversation with a sibling, parent, a grandparent, or child. Fully engage and fully listen. Allow the joy of being still and being present fill you in this third week of Advent.
As you finish your Christmas shopping, be sure to include a few extra items to less fortunate.
Children’s socks or craft supplies for the children at Adelbrook
Adult socks for the clients of House of Bread
Shampoo or soap for the clients at Immacare
Individual snacks for St. Vincent dePaul and House of Bread.
As you wrap gifts be sure to say a prayer for those that might not have presents under the tree or for the recipient of your gift.
Have each person in the family pick a name and make a gift for that person. It could be as simple as a thoughtfully written note, a coupon book, or a picture. Think of the humble gifts that were presented to our Lord Jesus Christ upon his birth – the shepherd gave his most precious gift: his uninterrupted time and attention.
Read -
Jacob’s Gift
The Berenstain Bears The Joy of Giving
Let music fill your house this week, but let it be Advent music.
Take time this week to listen. Silence your phone, close your computer, keep the television off. Have a conversation with a sibling, parent, a grandparent, or child. Fully engage and fully listen. Allow the joy of being still and being present fill you in this third week of Advent.
As you finish your Christmas shopping, be sure to include a few extra items to less fortunate.
Children’s socks or craft supplies for the children at Adelbrook
Adult socks for the clients of House of Bread
Shampoo or soap for the clients at Immacare
Individual snacks for St. Vincent dePaul and House of Bread.
As you wrap gifts be sure to say a prayer for those that might not have presents under the tree or for the recipient of your gift.
Have each person in the family pick a name and make a gift for that person. It could be as simple as a thoughtfully written note, a coupon book, or a picture. Think of the humble gifts that were presented to our Lord Jesus Christ upon his birth – the shepherd gave his most precious gift: his uninterrupted time and attention.
Read -
Jacob’s Gift
The Berenstain Bears The Joy of Giving
Let music fill your house this week, but let it be Advent music.
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Family Question - How would you have answered the Angel Gabriel’s question?
Outside Action - Bundle up and go outside and look at the stars. If you have the technology, play Silent Night as you take a moment to appreciate the gifts God has given us, like a star-filled evening. Be filled with the joy of knowing that God loves each and every one of us as His own. We are all His sons and daughter’s – sacred, holy and loved.
Outside Action - Bundle up and go outside and look at the stars. If you have the technology, play Silent Night as you take a moment to appreciate the gifts God has given us, like a star-filled evening. Be filled with the joy of knowing that God loves each and every one of us as His own. We are all His sons and daughter’s – sacred, holy and loved.
WEEk 4: “For God SO loved the world that he gave his only Son.”
Holy Traditions
Just like our joyful anticipation has been growing, so too has the light from the Advent wreath. This light reminds us we are growing closer to the birth of our Savior. Just as we are in the final days of preparation for Christmas so too were Mary and Joseph in the final days preparing for the birth of their child. Take a moment as a family and reflect how Advent and Christmas preparations have been different this year. Share what you have enjoyed or maybe appreciated a little more deeply this year.
Family Question – How did you prepare for the birth of your children? Who came to visit after they were born? How do you think Mary and Joseph prepared for the birth of Jesus? What gifts would you bring to the baby Jesus?
Outside Action –Drive around town listening to Christmas music admiring all the care and attention that went into decorating houses for the holidays. Be sure to notice the beauty of the stars in the snow, God’s gift to us if we choose to notice.
Send out invitations to gather via Zoom or other virtual mediums to either friends or family. Have a contest such as trivia games, Best Looking Cookies, or Best Christmas Memory.
Just like our joyful anticipation has been growing, so too has the light from the Advent wreath. This light reminds us we are growing closer to the birth of our Savior. Just as we are in the final days of preparation for Christmas so too were Mary and Joseph in the final days preparing for the birth of their child. Take a moment as a family and reflect how Advent and Christmas preparations have been different this year. Share what you have enjoyed or maybe appreciated a little more deeply this year.
Family Question – How did you prepare for the birth of your children? Who came to visit after they were born? How do you think Mary and Joseph prepared for the birth of Jesus? What gifts would you bring to the baby Jesus?
Outside Action –Drive around town listening to Christmas music admiring all the care and attention that went into decorating houses for the holidays. Be sure to notice the beauty of the stars in the snow, God’s gift to us if we choose to notice.
Send out invitations to gather via Zoom or other virtual mediums to either friends or family. Have a contest such as trivia games, Best Looking Cookies, or Best Christmas Memory.
Watch – Kids sharing the story of the Nativity:
Read - Your favorite story of the Nativity:
The Christmas Fox by Anik McGrory
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell
Listen:
The Christmas Fox by Anik McGrory
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell
Listen:
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May JOY be your gift at Christmas and may FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE be your treasures in the New Year.
Click on each image below for readings and reflections to more deeply contemplate and enjoy the hope of this Advent season.
Would you like a little more joy in your day? Are you looking to wait for something amazing? Would you like to work towards something incredible?
Let’s approach this advent season filled with joyful anticipation, an openness to watching the season unfolds, and a willingness to work. God works in and among us in the little moments. Think about it . . . God sent His only son not in the form of a powerful king, not in the form of a military giant, not in the form of a wealthy ruler, but as a vulnerable baby. When you were born I can guarantee it was great joy within your family as they waited for your arrival and as they watched you lovingly once you were born.
I encourage you over the next four weeks to focus on how you can joyfully prepare for the birth of Christ. Make an Advent playlist; pick up one of the Advent jars at church with fun activities, prayers, and actions; complete a service project; pick an Advent calendar, like the one on this page or the one on our Instagram page, and follow it through until Christmas, do something that benefits someone else or check out the family formation activities on this website and do something as a family.
Do something for yourself so that you may slow down and more fully appreciate the season even if this means letting something go so that you can find the peace of this season.
Most importantly open your heart and mind as you wait, watch, and work in the joyful anticipation of the coming of Christ!
Let’s approach this advent season filled with joyful anticipation, an openness to watching the season unfolds, and a willingness to work. God works in and among us in the little moments. Think about it . . . God sent His only son not in the form of a powerful king, not in the form of a military giant, not in the form of a wealthy ruler, but as a vulnerable baby. When you were born I can guarantee it was great joy within your family as they waited for your arrival and as they watched you lovingly once you were born.
I encourage you over the next four weeks to focus on how you can joyfully prepare for the birth of Christ. Make an Advent playlist; pick up one of the Advent jars at church with fun activities, prayers, and actions; complete a service project; pick an Advent calendar, like the one on this page or the one on our Instagram page, and follow it through until Christmas, do something that benefits someone else or check out the family formation activities on this website and do something as a family.
Do something for yourself so that you may slow down and more fully appreciate the season even if this means letting something go so that you can find the peace of this season.
Most importantly open your heart and mind as you wait, watch, and work in the joyful anticipation of the coming of Christ!
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Spend time reading the intimacy narratives. Did you know the birth of Jesus is only into of the four Gospels? Read through these two passages and noticed the difference in tone and focus:
Matthew 1:1-2:23 Luke 1:5-2:52 Intrigued at the differences? Then read Father Felix Just’s review of the Gospels and be amazed at the differences and similarities. |
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Need a quick reminder about the beauty of this season? Check these videos and be reminded of the joy of the season.
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