Advent 2011



This past Sunday was the 1st day of Advent 2011.  I love this time of year in the Catholic Church.  We wait in the dark for the coming of our Savior, as a baby.  (Just got a flash of Ricky Bobby praying, "Dear Lord Baby Jesus"!)  I remember being so excited to eat supper so that we could light the Advent wreath each night.  (Even though that meant one of my brothers trying to blow out the candle when it wasn't his turn.  There were plenty of arguments and tears - and tattling - during those nights, too!)  Lighting the pink candle was super exciting, because that meant that Advent was halfway over, and we were that much closer to Christmas! 
Father Christian had this video on his blog, and I wanted to share it with you.


Does your family do anything special for others during Advent/the holidays?

10 comments:

  1. I have to admit, Mary. I dreaded the first two purple candles...it meant Christmas was FOREVER away and as a kid, it was all about the presents! LOL Once we hit pink, it was like...woo hoo! Almost there! May you have a blessed Advent season!

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  2. We participate in the Samaitan's Purse "Christmas Box" - done that. We also plan to send a box to a soldier in Afghanistan - gotta get on that one.

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  3. I remember Advent wreaths when I was growing up!

    I liked the video. I truly agree with it. We have focused more in the past years of helping others rather than "gifting" ourselves. I rather give a toy to a child who will not get anything else than get something myself. This year our church we are going to (they do this yearly, it is just our first year here) collects new toys for over 5000 children in Mexico, they go down the weekend before Christmas with wrapped gifts for all plus food to feed them. I'll be helping to provide toys plus wrap them. It is so much better to give than to receive!

    betty

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  4. I really like the idea behind the Advent Conspiracy. I posted that video on Facebook a week or so ago, but it didn't get a single "like". Oh well! We simplified greatly last year with our extended family, and it was wonderful!

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  5. We have done an advent wreath in the past. This year we are reading about a different saint each Sunday. Last Sunday we read about St. Thomas More. My boys were kind of into it!

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  6. Oh, and I loved the video! Posted it to my facebook. Thank you!

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  7. We did an Operation Christmas Child shoe box this year (and it's going to be a Christmas tradition from now on). We also purchase gifts for the Angel Tree at church. When I worked, we always took up a collection and shopped for a local family in need. I won't be there this year at Christmas, but I've already contributed my share. Christmas is a time for family ... and for others, too.

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  8. Hi, Mary! I popped over from Suzette..... I love the video and shared it. I've been ready to throw the whole consumerism of Christmas out the window. Every year, I cut more and more.... but, family, ya know.....

    We do Operation Christmas Child at school and also, we did dinner in a bag this year where you put all the things for a meal in a bag and we donated them to a local pantry... it was very cool.

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  9. I love it too!! I remember as a kid getting picked to be the family that lit the candle during our church service. I remember being kinda bummed because we were early in the season so we only got to light a few candles. I love your Advent wreath.

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  10. What a lovely tradition. No we don't do anything special but I do know that Jesus is the reason for the season and I am in love with nativities so they are all over the house.

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