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 

Free Printable 2016 Lenten Calendars

Our Lenten journey in the Catholic church begins on Ash Wednesday and follows Jesus Christ for forty days of suffering in the desert, up to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. In 2016, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February, 10. Here are free printable Lenten calendars to help your experience of Lent.  Read on for Free Printable Lenten Calendars

Bible Almsgiving Activity for Lent

In the gospel, Jesus tells a story about a man who gave each of his servants a certain number of talents (money in those days). Catholic teachers, parents, homeschool families--use this parable in your lent devotions with an easy almsgiving activity. Here's the conclusion of the parable plus lesson plans to accompany.

In the Bible story, the master instructed his servants to find ways to make the investments he gave them grow. He wanted to see how his servants would use the money. He gave out sums of 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000 based upon his trust in each servant. The servants who were given the larger amounts each doubled theirs, but the third servant hid the money in the ground because he was angry with his master. The master was pleased with the first two and gave over to them all the money they had made. The master took the third servant's sum away and rebuked him for his vengeful spirit. The 1,000 was given to the other servants. Read  more Bible Almsgiving Activities for Lent