Presentations text content in Advent 2017 RESOURCE FOR
Slide1
Advent 2017
RESOURCE
FOR
children’s liturgy
Slide2Advent resourceThis resource invites participants to journey through the four weeks of Advent.Each week of Advent has been divided into six components:
The ritual of lighting a candle on the Advent wreath.The Gospel reading with reflection questions.
A Caritas Australia story with reflection points.Actions to take.A
group prayer. There is also additional information in the 'Notes' section of some slides.
A Sudanese woman travels by donkey to fetch water. Photo Credit: Annie Bungerouth ACT Caritas
Slide3The advent wreathThe word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’. Lighting the candles on the wreath symbolises the coming of light (Jesus) into the world.
The first candle (violet) represents hope, the second (violet) peace, the third (rose) joy, and the fourth (violet) love. The central white candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Christ.
This Advent we will learn, act and pray for a more just and fair world – a world full of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Make your own Advent wreath.
Making the Advent wreath a daily customAdvent wreaths can be used in Church, at school or at home. The Advent wreath helps us keep our thoughts focused on the coming of Christ at Christmas, so we should integrate it into our daily activities. This could be done as a class at a set time of the day. Everyone gathers around the wreath and someone lights the appropriate candle(s).
Leader prays
the Advent wreath prayer for the week
.
Slide4Global Gifts– We are One Human Family
This year help bring the gift of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love to our one human family around the world. Each Global Gift will go towards supporting our most important work; from responding to emergency situations with food and water to supporting education programs and training farmers with new sustainable livelihood techniques
.
Share a message of compassion this Christmas - simply select one of our beautiful global gift cards. When you send a Global Gift card to your friends or family, you also share a gift with the world and help support our one human family.
Slide5Hope: The First week of advent
God of light and hope, we ask to be filled with your love this Advent. We ask for your help to be people of hope
in our thoughts, actions and words to
everyone we meet. We say this prayer and light this candle in Your name. Amen
Advent is a special time where we
prepare for
the birth of
Jesus.
The first candle is the candle of hope.
Slide6Hope: The First week of advent
GOSPEL REFLECTION:
The Gospel tells us we need to make sure we are ready for
the Lord.
What does Advent mean to you?
Jesus says ‘if he comes unexpectedly he must not find you asleep.’ What do you think he means by this?
What is Jesus asking of the disciples when he tells them to stay awake?
How can we show others that we are people who are awake and ready?
How does this Gospel show hope?
Mark 13:33-37
Stay awake! You never know when the Lord will come.
Slide7A STORY OF
HOPE: TAWONGA, MALAWI
Tawonga is eight years old, she loves going to school and learning but school is a very long way from her home. There is not a school bus and Tawonga’s parents cannot drive her to school, the only way to get there is to walk. Tawonga cannot walk very far on her own due to a disability she was born with, and so she cannot walk to school. Tawonga did not give up hope. Thanks to a donated second hand wheelchair she is able to attend school. Every day Tawonga’s siblings push her three kilometres to school and three kilometres home.
Photo credit: Caritas Australia
Slide8Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. Most people in Malawi, like Tawonga and her family grow their food. For over a year now Tawonga’s family have only able to have one meal a day instead of two. They went four days without food making Tawonga and her siblings very sick. They have been so sick and weak they have been missing school. There are millions of people in East Africa without enough to eat.
Caritas Australia and their partners in East Africa are working hard
to improve their access to food, water, sanitation and hygiene for families like Tawonga’s.
A STORY OF
HOPE: TAWONGA, MALAWI
Photo credit: Caritas Australia
Slide9Reflection
How is Tawonga’s story a story of hope?
Tawonga did not give up on her dream of going to school. What is something you have not given up on?
How did Tawonga’s siblings help her get to and from school? When have you been a person of hope for someone?
Actions we can take:
Pray for the people in East Africa.
Organise a Solidarity Lunch.
Tell others about Tawonga and people like her in East Africa who do not have enough to eat.
Hope: The First week of advent
Photo credit: Caritas Australia
Slide10We pray,
Dear
God,
we ask
You
to guide us as people of hope this Advent.
We pray
for our sisters and brothers
around
the world who are
hungry, especially those in East Africa and Yemen.
May they know they are not alone at this time, and continue to be people of
hope in their communities.
Help us to share the hope of this season with everyone we meet. We ask this prayer in Your name
.
Amen
Slide11peace: the second week of advent
The second candle is the candle of peace.
We use the Advent wreath to help us to remember Jesus is coming.
Slide12Mark 1:1-8 Make straight the paths of the Lord
GOSPEL REFLECTION:
This week the coming of Jesus, which was written about long ago, is told to the people by the Prophet John the Baptist.
What do you think is ‘the way’?
What choices can you make, at home and school, that show you are making a straight path for the Lord?
The wilderness or desert is a confusing place, hot during the day and cold at night. Why do you think God spoke to the heart of people here, while they were at their lowest?
How can we make it easy for people to come to God?
What does God want from us?
peace: the second week of advent
Slide13A STORY OF
PEACE: SARAH, IRAQ
now living in Australia
Photo Credit: Caritas Australia
Sarah is 12 years old, she was born in Iraq but lives in Australia now. Sarah and her family were forced to leave their home in Iraq due to fighting and war. Much like Mary, Joseph and Jesus, Sarah’s family knew their country was no longer safe for them. They left their home and belongings searching for peace in Jordan. They lived in a refugee camp in Jordan for almost two years.
“
People from an organisation called Caritas Jordan welcomed us when we arrived in Jordan. They helped us get some food and clothes and a place to live. We had to live with ten other families at the same place but I thank God that we were safe.”
Slide14Photo Credit: Caritas Australia
A STORY OF
PEACE: SARAH, IRAQ
now living in Australia
Caritas Australia and their partners help refugee families like Sarah’s with food, water, shelter, sanitation, hygiene and non-food items.
“The Caritas people were very kind, trying to make us forget the pain of leaving our families and friends in Iraq. Today, I feel so lucky because I’m living with my family peacefully. The life I have now would not have been possible without the wonderful people of Caritas.”
Pope Francis launched Caritas Internationalis’ ‘Share the Journey’ campaign in September. He asks us to welcome and protect migrants and refugees like Sarah and her family.
Slide15Peace
Reflection
What similarities do you see in this story and Jesus’ early life?
Why do you think Pope Francis has asked us to ‘Share the Journey’ with migrants and refugees?
How is this story one of peace?
Actions we can take:
Show solidarity by participating in
a
Refugee
Pilgrimage or Refugee Simulation.
‘Share the journey’ by hosting a “living books” day at school, inviting migrants and refugees to talk to your school about their experience.
Show welcome and peace to migrants and refugees in your community.
Pray for people who have to flee their homes.
Slide16We pray,
God, we ask for You to guide us as peacemakers. As we go about our day, help us to act as Jesus would by welcoming our refugee and migrant sisters and brothers to our country, community and schools. May we show Your peace to one another in our words, thoughts and actions. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Slide17joy: the third week of advent
.
The third candle is the candle of joy
.
God of all, we ask to be filled with Your joy this Advent.
Christmas is a time of celebration, let us share the in the joy of all of our sisters and brothers around the world. We say this prayer and light this candle in your name. Amen
The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, this means rejoice.
Slide18joy: the third week of advent
GOSPEL REFLECTION:
In this week’s Gospel John the Baptist is questioned if he is the prophet. He tells people that the prophet is coming.
Jesus is described as the light? Why? What image does this create for you?
Why may John be called a witness to the light? What can we do to show others that we are witnesses?
What do you think it means to make a straight way for the Lord?
What joy can you see in this story? How can you share the joy of advent?
John 1:6-8 19-28 There stands among you, unknown to you, the one who is coming after me.
Slide19STORIES OF
JOY:
TJANPI DESERT WEAVERS
Tjanpi
Desert Weavers is a social enterprise of the
Ngaanyatjarra
, Pitjantjatjara,
Yakunytjatjara
(NPY) Women’s Council. For over 20 years this program has been providing culturally appropriate employment opportunities to women from remote First Australian communities.
’We realised we were working with a very ancient story and tradition, but making new things out of it.”
Nyurpaya
Kaika
-Burton, Amata SA
Tjanpi
Desert Weavers make baskets, beads and fibre art celebrating their land stories and culture. They are sold locally and nationally, and displayed in art galleries around the country.
Photo Credit: Caritas Australia
Slide20A STORY OF
JOY:
TJANPI DESERT WEAVERS
This project benefits the community because it supports leadership and skills development, builds confidence and self-esteem as well as inspiring creativity. The weaving is done by women of all ages and ability levels.
“We have one lady who had a stroke; she can’t weave with the raffia because of her disability, but she can wind wool
.
– Doreen
Coughran
, Coordinator, Docker River Aged Care
With Caritas Australia’s support, the
Tjanpi
Desert Weavers program assists more than 400 weavers from 28 communities.
“It is good to keep our culture going. Our grandmothers can see that we are working. They can see what work we do. We are all here, working and living and making money for our children.”
– Dorothy Richards,
Mantamaru
WA
Slide21joy
Reflection
In what way do you think the creation of artworks like these continues traditions, culture and stories for these communities?
What message of joy did you take from this story?
How can you share your joy with others?
Actions we can take:
Support local artists and farmers where possible.
Share the story of the
Tjanpi
Desert Weavers with others.
Think of two ways you can bring joy to someone this week.
Slide22We pray,
Dear God, as we wait in joyful expectation this advent we ask for Your help to be people of joy. May we celebrate the successes of our friends and family at school and at home. We ask that we remember to see the joy of Your spirit in our friends and family even when we are sad. May Your love and joy shine through us to all we meet. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Slide23Love: the fourth week of advent
The fourth candle is the candle of love.
God of love, we ask to be filled with Your love this Advent. Help us to shower Your love on our sisters and brothers around the world. May everyone we meet feel your presence and love. We say this prayer and light this candle in your name. Amen
Slide24Love: the fourth week of advent
GOSPEL REFLECTION:
In the Gospel this week the angel Gabriel visits Mary and tells her she was chosen by God to have a baby. He told her that the baby would be Jesus, the Son of God, who will reign forever.
Do you think it would have been easy for Mary to say yes to God? Why?
How can we be like Mary and show our love for God when we are at home and at school?
What does God ask of us in our lives? What is his plan for us as followers of Christ?
Mary showed courage and trusted in God’s plan. When do show trust in God’s plan?
Luke 1:26-38 You will conceive and bear a son
Slide25Photo Credit: Caritas Australia
Changing weather patterns affect us all, but the people who face poverty around the world are the most likely to suffer from the changing
climate.
Rusi
lives in
Nukui
, a remote community in Fiji and he is worried about the sea. More and more sea water is eating away at their beach. The homes and gardens closest to the ocean are being flooded.
Nukui’s
soils are turning salty so that people can’t grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Caritas Australia and their partner Pacific Community Network have been helping the people of
Nukui
extend the sea wall
Rusi
started as well as teaching about preparing for emergencies like cyclones.
A STORY OF LOVE, RUSI FROM FIJI
Slide26Photo Credit: Mie Cornoedus
A STORY OF LOVE, VINSEN FROM INDONESIA
Vinsen
and his family have also felt the impact of climate change. Changing weather patterns meant his crops did not grow well, his land flooded and food was not secure. Caritas and their partners are helping farmers like
Vinsen
, with programs educating them about long and short tem crop planting, terracing the land and preventing erosion.
Vinsen
is earning more money from his crops and his family feel secure knowing they have food to eat.
Slide27love
Reflection
This year Caritas Australia and other faith based organisations petitioned the government to take strong action on climate change. Why do you think it is important for us to take action to prevent climate change?
Who is affected by climate change? Does this show love?
How can we show love to all affected by climate change?
Actions we can take:
Write a hearts 4 climate letter.
Share
Vinsen
and
Rusi’s
stories.
Pray that we show God’s love and care to all of creation.
Slide28We pray,
Dear God, fill us with Your love as we wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Give us the courage to speak up for our sisters and brothers around the world who are suffering from climate injustice. May they feel our love and support as we stand with them. Let us be an example of Your love Lord as we go about our day. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Slide29Candle
Christ Candle
Slide30Evergreen
Holly
Slide31Pine cone
Apple
Slide32Laurel
Nuts
Slide33Seed Pods
Slide34Slide35Slide36
Advent 2017 RESOURCE FOR
Download Presentation - The PPT/PDF document "Advent 2017 RESOURCE FOR" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.