Current Liturgical Season: Advent

Advent is a time for waiting - a time of watching - a time to hope.
It might seem strange at first that we designate Advent as the time that we begin our liturgical year - and the lessons at the start of Advent talk about things of the end. That is because Advent is not only a time to remember Christ's first coming as Christmas, but also a time to look forward to Christ's second coming at the end of the world.
During the four weeks of Advent, we take time to reflect on:

how Jesus was the Messiah promised by God to God's people and was foretold by the prophets
how the coming of the Messiah came to pass in the birth of Jesus, born of Mary in Bethlehem
how Christ, the Prince of Peace, will come at the end of time to be the ruler over the promised reign of God.
how we live out this mystery of faith each time we pray, "Your kingdom come, you will be done."

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot gather as a group until conditions are safe from the real possiblity of community spread. As we enter the holiday season, we are given the opportunity to give thanks to God and our express hopes for the future by making TIME to grow more deeply in our faith.

Scroll down this page to the current Sunday to find resources and suggestions for each week. Since you know your family's needs better than anyone, you will be able to use these resources and suggestions in ways uniquely appropriate to your family.

A Special Family Activity - The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar. It is traditionally a Lutheran practice, although it has spread to many other Christian denominations. Even though we often see the Advent wreath in church, it is meant primarily to be a home devotion.
The Advent wreath is an evergreen wreath with four candles, sometimes with a fifth, white candle in the center. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading, devotional time and prayers. An additional candle is lit on each subsequent Sunday until, by the last Sunday of Advent, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, Christ candle which is lit at Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Each candle has a meaning:

HOPE: On the First Sunday in Advent, we light the first purple candle to celebrate HOPE. This is also called the “Prophet’s Candle,” and it represents the hope we have because Jesus is coming.
FAITH: The Second Sunday in Advent is marked with the second purple candle, which symbolizes FAITH. This is also called the “Bethlehem Candle,” and with it we remember Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
JOY: On the Third Sunday in Advent, we light the pink candle, which represents JOY. This is also called the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and we are reminded of the joy the world experienced when Jesus was born in human flesh.
PEACE: On the Fourth Sunday in Advent, we light the final purple candle as we celebrate PEACE. This is called the “Angel’s Candle,” and it reminds us of the message the angels sang: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men!”
PURITY: If your Advent wreath includes a Christ candle, you light it on Christmas Day. This candle is usually white to symbolize purity.

To make an advent wreath at home, you can explore the internet for many different options, some simple, some more complex. Choose whatever works best in your family as something you can all do together! For the weekly celebration, you can download files with readings and prayers for use with your family below. Choose the one that works best for your family.

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The Fourth Sunday in Advent - December 20

The story of the Annunciation calls to our attention God’s wondrous action in human history. God chose a human person to give birth to his Son so that all humanity would know God’s salvation. Mary, already full of God’s grace, was able to cooperate in this great plan for our salvation. Thus Jesus was born as one of us, fully human and also fully divine. This is the mystery we prepare to celebrate at Christmas, the mystery of the Incarnation. In the model of Mary, we pray that we will be people of faith who recognize God’s saving plan for us and are able respond with obedience.

Readings for this Sunday

The readings for The Fourth Sunday in Advent are:
(Click on the link for the text of each reading from this Sunday.)

Godly Play online!

Core Story
This week our Advent series on the mystery of Christmas concludes with the story of the magi.

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 (Theme: God assures God's people that a king will come from David's line to restore glory to the people of Israel.)
Romans 16:25-27 (Theme: God's plan was hidden in the words of the Hebrew Scriptures but is now made clear in the mission of Jesus Christ.)
Luke 1:26-38 (Theme: Luke tells the story of Jesus birth in such a way as to tell us all about the work that Jesus came to do. )

Resource Corner

The video below retells the story of the Annunciation.

Family Activity
One of the challenges of faith is to recognize God’s plan for us and to remain open to God’s will and God’s actions in our world. Filled with God’s grace, Mary models for us the kind of faith that is needed to cooperate in God’s plan of salvation. Like Mary, we are given the awesome opportunity to cooperate in God’s saving plan. On this final Sunday of Advent, our Gospel invites us to consider how our preparations for Christmas have made us more aware of God’s grace working in our lives.
Gather together your family and talk about what you have been doing as a family to prepare for Christmas. How have these preparations helped you to better celebrate the central mystery of Christmas, the Incarnation? Our Gospel today talks about how Mary was prepared for her role in Christ’s birth. Read today’s Gospel, Luke 1:26-38. Consider the question: What enabled Mary to say yes to God? Which of your Advent activities have made you more aware of God’s grace in your life? Conclude in prayer together that God’s grace will enable your family to be more faithful and obedient to God. Pray together the Magnificat (see below - Third Sunday in Advent).

Activities for Children
Click on the file below to download "The Sunday Paper and "The Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.

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Putting faith into practice
(Use examples from everyday life to teach a vital truth about the faith. They don't need to be structured into a lesson plan but are part of how we live out our faith.)

House of David. Kings and queens belong to royal "houses" or families. Belonging to a family gives responsibilities to its members, dependifamily ng on the roles that each member plays. Royal families has responsibilities or duties for the community. We have responsibilities or duties to the smallest community, the family. Jesus was a member of King David's extended family and so had a role to play within the people of Israel. We call these responsibilities the mission of Jesus.
Son of God. We refer to Jesus as the Son of God. Our theology recognizes Jesus as the second person of the Trinity - Jesus is both God and human. Often human sons "take after" their parents. Eventually, Jesus begins to look like and act like God. This helps us to recognize God in a new way.

Facebook discussion group
Also available for parents is a special Facebook Group where parents can support one another, ask questions, offer advice, share ideas and insights as we work together to strengthen the faith of our children. For permission to participate in this discussion forum, please contact Mother Mary at youth@stlukeslebanon.org

The Third sunday in Advent - December 13

In today's lesson's, we hear about the light that shines and eventually illumines Christmas Day. we hear this in the gospel lesson assigned for Christmas' Mass during the Day from the first chapter of John's Gospel (part of which we read this week).
We see more light with the Feast of the Epiphany and then Transfiguration Sunday (the last Sunday after Epiphany).
Early in the Church's history, leader chose December 25th as the day to celebrate the coming of Christ as a human at the time of the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere because it is on that day that we can perceive the days begin to get longer giving more light to our part of the world. With the invention of easy and affordable artificial light, we may not be as perceptive to this rich symbol as the people of ancient times.

Readings for this Sunday

The readings for The Third Sunday in Advent are:
(Click on the link for the text of each reading from this Sunday.)

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. (Theme: The prophet speaks a message of hope to the people of ancient Israel as they return from their exile in Babylon. He describes a "year of jubilee" - a time of fulsome blessing brought by God's love for God's people.)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (Theme: God gives many spiritual gifts to the people of the Church. Each of us has at least one that God expects us to use to build up the community we call church.)
John 1:6-8,19-28 (Theme: The people of Jesus time had many different ideas about what to expect from a messiah figure. Some thought John the Baptizer was this person. He points to another - Jesus - who baptizes not with water but with the power of the Holy Spirit. We share that baptism as the power of the Holy Spirit grows within each of us (see 1 Thess., above).

Resource Corner

A short LEGO animation of John 1:19-28 in the Bible.

God had two jobs for John the Baptist: one was to get people ready to hear the good news of Jesus; and, the second was to identify Jesus when he arrived. Here is an animated telling of the story and a portion that sets the context.

Family Activity
In family life, we learn to trust other people for protection and care. This experience of trust within the family enables children to believe us when we testify about our faith in Jesus. John the Baptist was believed by those who heard him because he helped them to recognize Jesus in their midst. In our family life, we hope and pray that we lead one another to recognize Jesus’ presence in our world.
As you gather as a family, recall that during the Advent season we are invited to pay particular attention to the signs of Jesus’ presence in our world. Consider some of the signs of Jesus’ presence that you have experienced.

During Advent, we remember how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. Read together today’s Gospel, John 1:6-8,19-28. Discuss the signs of Jesus’ presence in our world that you named and explain what these signs tell us about God and God’s love for us.

Pray together that your family will be led to recognize that Jesus is present among us. Read and pray together the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 119) that we use at Evening Prayer.

The Song of Mary    Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
    for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
    the Almighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
    in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
    he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
    and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
    for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
    to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for
   ever. Amen.

Godly Play Online!

Core Story

The Third Sunday in Advent. Mother Kisner gives us a preview of the Christmas story by telling us about significant portions of the Scriptural account.

Activities for Children

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Click on the file below to download The "Sunday Paper" for this week.

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John the Baptist - John was a forerunner - a term which designates someone to go ahead of someone to prepare the way for them. Today, important and famous people have "advance teams" that go ahead of them to make all the preparations, to gather a crowd, to make things safe for the celebrity. That was John's job from God - to prepare the way for Jesus so that people would know who he was and what he came to do.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit. John baptized with water. This was a sign of repentance - that people wanted to express their sorrow for having done something wrong or failed to do what was right. Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit. This was more than just seeking forgiveness and getting right with God. The baptism of the Holy Spirit gives to us certain spiritual gifts that empower us to follow Jesus and to accomplish what Jesus gives us to do.
Jubilee. The law of Moses required that every fifty years, all debts were to be forgiven, that all prisoners (debtors) would be set free, that all property would be restored to its rightful owners. This was a massive "reset" among God's people - where everyone was equal again and everyone had a chance. This is a vision of the perfect kingdom of God for which we strive ("the day of the Lord") when God is king over all the earth.

The Second Sunday in Advent - December 6

John the Baptist is one of the Bible's most interesting characters. In today's gospel lesson, we meet him "for the first time." What is John were to appear with us in Church one Sunday? Could someone (perhaps dressed so outrageously) suddenly appear and interrupt the sermon with calls "to prepare the way of the Lord" while sprinkling the congregation with water? What kind of reaction would you have? or would you expect the people of the parish to have? What kind of discussion would we have in real time to bring John's message of 2000 years ago and make it apply to our world today? What does the repentance that John preaches mean in the year 2020?

Readings for this Sunday

The readings for The Second Sunday in Advent are:
(Click on the link for the text of each reading from this Sunday.)

Isaiah 40:1-11 (Theme: The road of which the prophet speak is the road being traveled by God. Our comfort is intimately linked with God's coming and dwelling among us.)
2 Peter 3:8-15a (Theme: In the time of the apostles, many people expected Jesus to return almost immediately. They grew increasingly anxious as the delay seemed to grow longer and longer. This lesson suggests to us that God's view of time is very much different than our own. This gives us an opportunity to reflect on how we should be living in the here and now, so that we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.)
Mark 1:1-8 (Theme: The word "gospel" translates a Greek word: evangelion, which in everyday usage at the time meant simply, "good news." These wre important announcements, like the birth of a new king or a great military victory. Mark the evangelist believes that the life and work of Jesus deserves this kind of announcement - it is that significant. )

RESOURCE Corner

Here is an explanation of who John the Baptist was and what he came to do.

How do we receive information? Is the news good, or frustrating? In this message, discuss who John the Baptist was and the message of hope he came to share. Encourage students to receive this good news and to tell others about the joy of Jesus.
John the Baptist is a key figure in the Bible, not only for His place as baptizer of Christ. The New Testament prophet brought the blessed news of Christ’s coming, announcing the Messiah and preparing the way for Him. This video hopes to communicate to kids that, while there is a lot of negative news emphasized, we know the greatest news of all. The Gospel is, by definition, good news, and we should share it with those around us!

Godly Play - Online!

Core Story

The Second Sunday in Advent. It is a time for us teo prepare for Christmas, not unlike the prophets encourage God's people to wait for the coming of the Messiah. Here is the "beginning of the good news" - the prelude to the Christmas story.

The Feast of St. Nicholas
This Sunday, December 6th, is also the Feast of St. Nicholas. We often equate St. Nicholas with our modern rendition of Santa Claus. The modern version is pretty far away from the original "St. Nick." Here are some resources you can use with children to explore the origins of Santa Claus in the life of St. Nicholas.

Here are two links to information about St. Nicholas, from the St. Nicholas Center.
Who Is St. Nicholas?
and
St. Nicholas and the Origins of Santa Claus

Here is a two part video explanation as well.

Activities for Children

Click on the file below to download The "Sunday Paper - Junior" for this week.

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Click on the file below to download The "Sunday Paper" for this week.

Family Activity
The season of Advent invites us to renew our lives in preparation for the coming of Jesus. The people who heard the message of John the Baptist repented for their sins and were baptized as a sign of God’s forgiveness. In Baptism, our sins are forgiven, and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our life of discipleship. Led by the Holy Spirit, we use this Advent season to renew our lives so that we, like John the Baptist, might prepare the way for Jesus.
As you gather together as a family, talk about ways in which the example of others has called you to be a follower of Jesus. Name the people who have been examples to you of Christian discipleship and describe their characteristics that you have tried to emulate. Read together today’s Gospel, Mark 1:1-8.
As John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, Baptism commissions us to prepare the way of the Lord. The gift of the Holy Spirit leads us to continually renew our lives so that we might lead others to Jesus. As a family, identify at least one action that you will take this week to try to be more faithful followers of Jesus. Conclude in prayer together that God will receive this action and use it to lead others to Jesus. Pray the Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Lord, send forth your Spirit
And kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to relish what is right
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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Listening / Waiting / Stillness. It is a common theme across our readings today (and through most of Advent) that it is in waiting and in rest that we are restored. Strengthened. Reset to original powers and purpose.
Unplugging. A more modern take might be what modern day advisors tell us when they advise us to stop. Unplug. To look up (from our phones and tablets). To look around. To listen. In this way,, we make room for God in our busy lives.
Depending on God. When everything is going well, we seldom think about God except perhaps in passing. But when we are in difficulty, it is usually God to whom we turn first and with expectation. This is especially important for us to recognize during the pandemic. It is easier to express our dependence on God when we seem to be out of control in our lives. Advent hopes to teach us that God is more than an "emergency kit" to be opened only after we have made a mess of things.

The First Sunday in Advent - NOVEMBER 29

In the collect for this day, we pray, "Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness." We look for ways to do this with God's help in the way we live and the things we do (or don't do) that are part of God's plan to bring the kingdom not only into our personal lives but also into the life of the world in which we live. The day will come when God's wisdom and God's presence will be seen clearly and fully. It will be a time of tremendous hope and promise, but it will also be a time of judgment. God's people must always live in readiness for that great day to come.

REAdings for this sunday

godly Play Online

The readings appointed for The First Sunday in Advent are: (Click on the link for the text of each reading from this Sunday.)

Isaiah 64:1-9. The coming of Advent hopes to rouse us to think about fresh possibilities for the way in which God delivers us and brings our lives the wholeness which is the meaning of the Hebrew word shalom. We cannot create peace through selfishness, but by opening ourselves to hope. Hope is what is left when our worst fears have come true and we are not very optimistic about the future. Hope is what comes with a broken heart willing to be mended. It does not come from human effort but is a grace (gift from God). Reflect for a moment on how has a broken heart brought you to a place of hope.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9. God's gifts (grace) are not simply something given or a power at work in individuals. God gives these gifts so that we can creates a new kind of community—one in which the divisions and the power structures of the the world no longer work for people because the grace of Jesus Christ, not human accomplishment or status, is the source of our life as a community.
Mark 13:24-37. The Advent message is pretty simple: Jesus does not intend for us to predict when he will return. Rather, he is urging us to live as if his return were just around the corner.

Resource corner

This video helps us to reflect on how current events (i.e., the pandemic) can be understood in light of today's gospel lesson. In times of trouble, we can be comforted by knowing that God's word will never change or pass away, and He will always be with us.

"Brother Francis" introduces children to the ideas of Advent in this brief video (4 min.). He includes Advent as a time of expectation and waiting and the Advent wreath.

Family Activity
In family life, we try to prepare ourselves for many future things: our next vacation, our children’s education, our retirement. We are careful not to allow ourselves to be caught by surprise so that we can handle any challenges our family may face. Today’s Gospel reminds us that we are called to be just as attentive and alert to the coming of the Son of Man (another title used for Jesus) so that it will not catch us unprepared. This means attending to our family’s spiritual life as carefully as we attend to other important family matters.

As a family, talk about a time when you received surprise visitors at your house, perhaps a neighbor who stopped by or a relative who arrived unannounced. Was your household prepared to receive this unannounced guest? What might your family have done differently if you knew ahead of time that this visitor was going to arrive? Jesus told his disciples that no one knows when the Son of Man will return, except the Father. Read with your family what Jesus told his disciples in today’s Gospel, Mark 13:24-37.

During Advent, we not only prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we also check to see if we are doing all the things that will keep us ready to receive Jesus when he comes again. Talk about how your family can recommit to daily prayers, reading Scripture, and staying faithful to Jesus' teachings. Pray together that through this Advent season your family will be more prepared to receive Jesus when he comes again.

Read as a concluding prayer Paul’s words to the Corinthians found in today’s second reading, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, or pray the Lord’s Prayer together.

The Core Story
In this Godly Play lesson, Michaelanne Helms teaches us about the season of Advent.

Activities for Children

Click on the file below to download and print the "Sunday Paper Junior" for this week.

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Click on the file below to download and print the "Sunday Paper for this week.

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Seeking shalom. Many are familiar with the Hebrew word shalom or “peace.” The common western definition of peace is — the absence of conflict or war — but in Hebrew it means so much more. "Shalom" is taken from word shalam which means "to be safe in mind, body, or estate. It speaks of completeness, fullness, or a type of wholeness that encourages you to give back - to generously repay something in some way. True biblical shalom refers to an inward sense of completeness or wholeness. In Israel today, when you greet someone or say goodbye, you say, Shalom. You are literally saying, “may you be full of well-being” or, “may health and prosperity be upon you.”
Salvation. In some Christian groups, it is common to hear the question, "Have you been saved?" We might tend to ask "Saved from what?" The answer comes, "From sin and death by our Lord Jesus." The question is usually asked about a specific experience. Episcopalians also believe that we are saved by Christ, but is a somewhat different take. What does this look like for us in everyday life? How does sin and death manifest itself in us? During Advent, we recall that we live in the time between the first and second coming of Christ. So, we can know in the present the reality of salvation in Christ, even though the Kingdom of God is not yet complete in our world, our church, or our hearts. The sign of our salvation is our continual growth in the Spirit of God - growing closer to God and looking more and more like Jesus every day.