• In today’s Gospel, Jesus wants us to be ready when he comes again. We do not know when that will be. What are some ways you can stay vigilant and be ready for Jesus?
• The word “redemption” means being saved from sin. Does everyone in the world need to be saved from sin? Explain your answer.
• What does it mean to “stand before the Son of Man” at the end of time? How can we prepare for this now?

Create an Advent Wreath

Advent wreaths help us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” Create an Advent wreath for your home or to give as a gift. There are a variety of ways to create an Advent wreath. Here are two ideas:

Option 1

• 4 toilet paper tubes
• Purple construction paper and/or marker
• Pink construction paper and/or marker
• Green construction paper (or green marker or crayons)
• 1 piece of yellow paper (construction paper, Post-it notes, highlighted paper, etc.)
• A round plate (a paper plate is fine)

Cut the green paper into a circle so that it fits on top of the plate. Trace handprints on the green paper to make leaves for on the wreath. Wrap 3 of the toilet paper tubes in purple construction paper or color them purple. Wrap the remaining toilet paper roll in pink. Place the tubes on the plate, spaced evenly around the perimeter. Secure them with tape. Make flames from the yellow paper and tape the flames on the candles as appropriate.

Option 2

• 12” wire wreath frame
• Soft greenery garland (if you have a dollar store near you, check them out for this.)
• Purple poinsettia flowers or other purple flowers
• Advent candle set
• 4 candle holders
• white Christmas ribbon
• greenery ties
• glue gun

Wrap garland around your wire wreath until it is completely covered. Use hot glue to hold it in place. Next, take the white ribbon and wrap it around until you’ve found your desired placement. Secure it with a small dab of hot glue. Using a little bit of floral wire or greenery ties, space out the candle holders as evenly in place as possible and secure in place. Fill in empty areas of your wreath with purple poinsettia flowers and use a little bit of hot glue to hold them in place. Add the candles and you’re done!

Blessing of the Advent Wreath

Begin with the sign of the cross.

Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord

All: Who made heaven and earth.

[A reader proclaims Isaiah 9:1-2, 5-6.]

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Leader: This wreath reminds us of God’s promise and his never-ending love. What should we pray for tonight?

[Family members share intentions.]

Leader: We lift all of these intentions and those in our hearts up to you as we pray the prayer You taught us. Our Father…

All: Amen

Leader: Let us ask for God’s blessing.

Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God, 
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
You can include a verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, if desired.

(Adapted from Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers.)

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. What changes do you notice in the décor of the church?

Decide as a family a way that your family

can volunteer your time in service to others during the season of Advent.

Advent means “coming” or “arrival” in Latin. We are preparing for the coming of Jesus into our hearts and into the world.