Advent wreath devotions for children: Catholic Christian Christmas worship for families

Candle ceremonies are common components in many faith traditions and religious rituals. Jews pray the menorah at Hanukkah and African American Kwanzaa employs mishumaa candles. The Christian faith uses the Advent wreath at Christmas. The Advent wreath is an ancient practice observed in many Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christian churches and homes around the world. Catholic families generally have their own advent wreath. Prayers and devotions are said as Advent candles are lit.  Advent wreath devotions for children: Catholic Christian Christmas worship | Examiner.com

Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas

 The Catholic Christian season of Advent begins November 30, 2014 and goes for four weeks till Christmas. Many families follow Advent calendars. Some contain candy or prizes to countdown to Christmas. The Daily Mail, on November 24, listed even more lavish commercial Advent calendars prizes: nail polish, gifts, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, even beer! While there's nothing wrong with a little treat, materialism defeats the Advent purpose: to focus on God. Constantly receiving teaches children (and adults) to be even more aquisitory than they already are at Christmas. If they're getting all season long, where's the magic of Christmas morning? Advent is about preparing for the coming of Christ with acts of charity. Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas | Examiner.com

Dunkin' Donuts tops Starbucks in Christmas holiday cups: Good Christians rejoice

Christmas 2015 might go down as the schmaltzy and most superficial ever, thanks to the Starbucks "War on Christmas" Red Holiday Cup Controversy. The Christian Science Monitor reported Nov. 11, that Starbucks put out plain red holiday cups, devoid of Christmas ornamentation (reindeer, snowflakes, etc). Some Christians said it was a full frontal attack on Christmas (even though real Christian Christmas symbols are a Baby Jesus, nativity, angels). Donald Trump called for a boycott of Starbucks (good Christian that he is!) Now Dunkin' Donuts tops Starbucks offering Christmas holiday cups with holly on them. Really good Christians, rejoice! (bad Scroogy Starbucks, don't you know that putting coffee in plain red cups means you hate God? Looks like somebody will be getting coal this year!) Dunkin' Donuts tops Starbucks in Christmas holiday cups: Good Christians

 

Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments and Christmas Bible coloring pages for Advent

Advent is the Catholic Christmas liturgical season leading up to Christmas. It's a minor penitential season like Lent. For four weeks, we pray, fast, read Bible passages on the gospel Christmas story and give alms to the poor. The theme of Advent is to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. One way is to pray an Advent calendar. Another, related to the Advent calendar is to follow a Jesse Tree.  Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments and Bible coloring pages for Advent 

Suggestions for Lenten Food Pantry Donations

Do you donate to food banks? It's a great form of lenten almsgiving for Catholic Christians. Food makes good zakat donations for Muslims, too. So what kind of things do you give? I have issues with some items our church food pantry requests: Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, boxed macaroni and cheese, boxed potatoes. I don't buy these products and I'm doing people a service not buying it for them. This "food" isn't food at all. It's full of fat and sodium and just convenience junk. If food is going to homeless people, I see why packaged is essential. They have no place to cook. But presumably the recipients of our food pantry do, ergo the Hamburger Helper request. Here's a list of better donations for food pantry donations this lent.   Do You Give to Food Pantries? What Food do You Donate?

Kids who are taught Empathy Learn Generosity too

I just called Number One Son (chronological, no favoritism). I had to nag him to confirm if he'll be flying with us to New Orleans to see his sister and also to find out when he and girlfriend would come for Thanksgiving. Then I found out he isn't coming. He's going to New York to help at a homeless shelter. Here's more about how to teach kids empathy, awareness of poverty and holiday generosity. My Generous Big Little Boy

Gift Suggestions for Children's Missions, Charities

During Lent, we Catholic practice charity, prayer, penance and fasting. Advent is a lesser penitential season and those same virtues are observed. Many of us give to children's charities, like Toys for Tots or Operation Christmas Child, or church giving trees.

It might seem obvious what gifts are best for kids. But I always remember the "The Waltons" Christmas special. The children received 'missionary barrel' gifts and Elizabeth got nothing but a broken doll. I cried my eyes out as she lovingly held that destroyed doll. I didn't understand why wealthy people would send a broken toy. But packing up gifts for a sister parish in Haiti, I found people still do that, alas. Some donated toys were damaged, others just weren't suitable.

We were pleased by the generosity, but disappointed by the lack of care some showed. We had to go out and buy gifts to supplement those that weren't usable. This gift list is written to clarify what children in overseas and domestic missions can use and what may not be appropriate. Top 10 Gift Ideas for Children's Missions and Charities