Hope
Advent Begins, November 29, 2020
Preparation, Anticipation, Reconciliation, Joy
Source: USCB.Org
Anticipation–“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
For Parents to Teach to Their Children
This month– December 1, 2020 to Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020–Advent leads us to the “Coming” of Christ, the Messiah. It is a time of preparation, excitement, and joyful anticipation. Children love the build up to Christmas morning. This Advent season, art, music, and literature help children learn more about Jesus, and His humble beginning in Bethlehem.
Our Art Gallery
“Advent Candles, Star of Bethlehem, The Nativity”
Our Readings
Excerpt from Jesus of Nazareth The Story of His Life Written for Children
Excerpt from, “The First Christmas Night” Pages-50-51.
“One day there was great excitement in the marketplace of Nazareth. A decree had gone out from Rome for the whole world to be enrolled. August Caesar, the Roman Emperor, who ruled over the greater part of the known world, wanted to find out how many people he governed that he might know the extent of his power, and how much he could tax his subjects. The Jews who were subject to him, were to go to the city
or town which was the home of their ancestors, and there give in their names and take an oath of fidelity to Caesar…This decree of Caesar filled them (the Nazarenes) with indignation. ‘Why should all men be disturbed and set on foot for his foolish whim?’ they cried. ‘O, that the Messiah would come quickly to free His people from the yoke of the wicked empire, and make all His enemies His footstool as David said!'”
Our Advent Prayers–From MagnifiKid!
Pages 12, November 29, 2020. Vol. 17. Part 12. Section 6
“In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“Emmanuel! God is with us! Come Lord Jesus!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the
beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.”
“Lord, help me stay awake so that I may prepare for your coming. Open my heart so that I may radiate your love to all around me.“
“In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.”
“In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.”
“Let us proclaim with Mary: “The Lord works wonders for me.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the
beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.”
“Keep me always ready to welcome you, Lord. Help me never to forget that I am your child.”
“Our Father, who art in heaven…”
“In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.”
Our Art Projects–Painting Advent Wreaths
This Advent wreath is made using acrylic paints for children and is a collage constructed on a print of purple columns. Feel free to paint all the decorations directly onto the base print. Or, you can cut strips, cut from watercolor paper, to create the five candles–3 purple, 1 pink, and 1 white. I painted the strips for the candles with my finger. For the wreath, I painted strips and used a small sponge-tip on a stick for painting on the “evergreens.” When the strips are dry, glue them into place. For the individual “flames,” draw “tear-drops,” cut them out of watercolor paper, then paint with red, yellow and orange paint, smeared on with your finger. When dry, glue them onto the candles. You can also add a flame to “light” each candle on the collage as the weeks progress. For the decorative circles on the evergreens, I used a large-size hole punch on some gold “painting scraps” I had, then glued them onto the “wreath.” You can make this as simple or complicated as you wish. I had fun making this!
Here is how to make one painting and three copies:
1. Squirt an Oreo-size glob of both white liquid glue and liquid acrylic paint onto a paper plate, for the back ground color.
2. Mix with brush and start painting the watercolor paper, rapidly. You can make stripes or any design you like on the glue/paint mixture.
3. When done, quickly place a new, clean sheet of watercolor paper on top of the wet, first sheet.
4. Press down, all over, with your hands, then peel off.
5. Repeat twice or three times depending on how mach paint is still on original sheet of paper.
6. Let all sheets of paper dry completely, then decorate or paint as desired.
Expect that the sheets of paper will look different with each printing. Feel free to add anything you’d like to the prints–gold paint, cut-outs, new paintings, etc. If something doesn’t work as you wish, let dry, then cut up to make a collage out of one or more of the sheets of paper. This is a great project for learning that mistakes can become something beautiful! The three prints at the very top of the page are all collages based on the same printed background.
Our Materials and Process
Paper Plate Advent Wreath
Paint an uncoated paper plate with kids’ gold metallic acrylic. Paint a sheet of watercolor paper with the acrylic paint in lavender or purple. Cut into circle when dry and paste onto plate. Cut paper into strips of watercolor paper and paint three candles purple and one candle pink. make four small rectangular “flames” for top of candles and paste onto candles.Decorate rim of plate as you wish. Punch hole at top for ribbon or string. Hang in a prominent place!
Watercolor Advent Wreath– to Add a Flame Each Week
One page of watercolor paper and a set of watercolors is all that’s needed for this four-week painting. Each week, one candle on the painting is “lit” by painting in the flame. New details can be added each week to the wreath, until the painting is complete by week four. This year we have only one day of the fourth week of Advent, as the following day is Christmas Eve and Advent is over.
Our Materials and Methods
In addition to a large, wide paintbrush, have a small brush for making fine little details. I also like using a round sponge on a post to add texture to the background. Twirl the round sponge in the watercolor cake the make dots all over the background in the same color used while painting earlier with a brush. I like to add splatter on a dry painting by rubbing a toothbrush (dedicated to be an art tool) and rubbing my finger over the bristles, onto the painting to create a splatter effect. If you feel you have too much paint anywhere, use a dry tooth brush to “erase the excess paint. It works very well. Have fun!
Suggested Homework Activities–Week Twelve–Week One of Advent
This week, buy or make an Advent wreath with 3 purple candles, one rose candle for week three, and one white candle for lighting the other candle.
Please read the Gospel for Sunday, November 29, 2020, with your children:
Gospel MK 13:33-37
“Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!'”