Post by LilyJ on Dec 16, 2006 23:00:07 GMT -5
I was preparing my lesson plan for my Sunday School class tomorrow when I found this amazing article:
72.36.140.238/html/catechist/contempIssues/archive_2005_06/113005contempIssues.html
How many of your Churches celebrate Advent? I realize it's mainly a Catholic tradition, but it's so important that I'm amazed more people don't do it.
A lot of my emphasis in class is on teaching that Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas - we're preparing our hearts and minds for Christ's coming.
So I asked my 5th graders why we decorate for Christmas. Their answer was, "So we can show we're preparing for Christmas!" Simple, but true. This is a time of joyful anticipation. If you're wrapped up in true Chrismas spirit, how can you resist celebrating just a little bit?
Unfortunately, of course, in this world we live in, all emphasis now is placed on commercialism, isn't it? I dunno about you, but when I did my Christmas shopping, I got irritated really quickly with all the corny Christmas music, ridiculous advertisements, and general stress-related hype to get that "perfect gift." (I wrote an Editorial for the school newspaper about Christmas spirit or lack thereof... I'm very curious about the response I'll get when it's published!
The point is, how do YOU celebrate Christmas? How do you get ready for it - and I don't mean shopping, I mean how do you get yourself spiritually ready? How do YOU respond to John the Baptist's challenge to "Prepare the way for the Lord!" ?
72.36.140.238/html/catechist/contempIssues/archive_2005_06/113005contempIssues.html
How many of your Churches celebrate Advent? I realize it's mainly a Catholic tradition, but it's so important that I'm amazed more people don't do it.
A lot of my emphasis in class is on teaching that Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas - we're preparing our hearts and minds for Christ's coming.
So I asked my 5th graders why we decorate for Christmas. Their answer was, "So we can show we're preparing for Christmas!" Simple, but true. This is a time of joyful anticipation. If you're wrapped up in true Chrismas spirit, how can you resist celebrating just a little bit?
Unfortunately, of course, in this world we live in, all emphasis now is placed on commercialism, isn't it? I dunno about you, but when I did my Christmas shopping, I got irritated really quickly with all the corny Christmas music, ridiculous advertisements, and general stress-related hype to get that "perfect gift." (I wrote an Editorial for the school newspaper about Christmas spirit or lack thereof... I'm very curious about the response I'll get when it's published!
The point is, how do YOU celebrate Christmas? How do you get ready for it - and I don't mean shopping, I mean how do you get yourself spiritually ready? How do YOU respond to John the Baptist's challenge to "Prepare the way for the Lord!" ?
Unfortunately, the rest of my family isn't, so I've kinda created my own little happy space in my room. 