Mission Together

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means ‘coming’ and it is a season in the church’s year when we wait quietly and patiently for Jesus as he comes to us at Christmas. In Catholic churches around the world, a reading from Mark’s Gospel will be heard during Mass. In it, we hear Jesus say, ‘Be on your guard, keep awake.’ (Mark 13:33-37)

The story Jesus tells is about a man who goes away for a while, leaving the people who work for him in charge of the house. And he says he will return at some point in the future, but nobody knows when. The servants are instructed to stay awake, carry out the tasks given to them, and be ready for the master’s return.

Advent is a time to remember how Jesus wants us to live out our mission — the special job Jesus gives to all of us which is to share God’s love. Just like the servants in today’s story who had their own tasks to do, we can do this by being kind and helpful, friendly and patient. Advent is about being awake and ready to notice the ways we can share God's love with everyone, everywhere.

Image: Pyotr Petrovich Zabolotsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Yesterday in churches across the world, the first candle was lit on this year's Advent wreaths. Advent wreaths have three purple candles and a single pink candle. These mark the four Sundays of Advent. The white candle, often in the centre of the wreath, represents Christ and is lit on Christmas day. The wreath is decorated with a circle of evergreen leaves, to remind us of God’s everlasting love. The circle has no beginning and no end, just as God’s love has no beginning and no end. Reflect now on the evergreen leaves on the Advent wreath and thank God for his never-ending love for us and for all His creation.

Being thankful is also known as gratitude. So let us finish with the following gratitude prayer, to help us reflect on the things we are grateful for today:

Advent is a waiting time. Waiting for good things isn’t easy, so ask God to help you wait patiently for Christmas Day.

Loving God,
In the Bible you teach us that ‘love is patient’.
Help me to understand how I can share your love by learning how to wait.
Help me to be patient with myself and others,
So that I don’t get angry or upset when things don’t happen quickly enough.
Show me how to wait for things to grow,
understanding that some things can’t be rushed.
Lord, help me to share your love by being patient today.
We make this prayer through Christ, your Son. Amen.

The Patience Prayer can be found on the Mission Together Prayer Resources webpage, in our collection of Values & Virtues Prayers.

Global family fact: Did you know that in the Philippines (which is in Asia) during Advent, people decorate homes and streets with big paper lanterns called Paroles? Paroles are signs that the people are lighting the way for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. Spend a moment thinking about the signs we use to help people know that Jesus is soon to be born: crib sets, carols, Nativity plays, greetings cards with scenes from the Christmas story. Ask God to help you share these signs with other people this Advent too.

God of light, as we wait through the long winter nights for the birth of Christ, help us to keep watch. Help us to tend the tiny flame of hope. Make us alert until your gift of joy arrives. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen

Have a go at making your own paper lantern by using our Advent craft activity – Stay Awake Lanterns. This can be found on the Mission Together Advent webpage.  Discover more global Advent traditions in our Preparing for Christmas around the world assembly. Find it here.

Image: Keith Bacongco, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Today is the feast day of St Francis Xavier. St Francis loved singing and often used songs to help children learn about God and Jesus. On his feast day, why not sing along with our Advent carol We are waiting.

During Advent, some of the Bible readings we hear at church were written by prophets. Prophets are God’s messengers. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, prophets were reminding the people of God’s great love and mercy and gradually preparing them to welcome God’s Son into the world. Some of the prophets’ words can be heard in our Mission Together Advent carol, We are waiting. See if you can you spot the prophets’ words, in the lyrics from verse two:

Like the people in the Bible in the days of old,
We know the son of God is coming,
as the prophets have foretold.
Mighty God,
Wonder Counsellor,
Emmanuel his name.
And the world will tell forever of his fame.

Advent is a time of great hope as we wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus. For thousands of years many poor, sick and lonely people shared this hope as they waited for God to send a saviour who would bring healing, and fairness, and friendship into the world. When Jesus was born that first Christmas, a bright star in the sky became a sign of hope that this saviour would soon be here! This star was so full of light that it shone a path through the darkness and led all the way to Jesus.

The Bible tells us that we too ‘will shine in the world like bright stars’ when we offer hope to others by sharing God’s love with them. Sadly, there are some children in this world who struggle to find hope. Some can’t go to school because their families are too poor. Some must leave their homes and friends because there is fighting in their country. Some don’t have families and have little hope of finding someone to look after them. Jesus wants us to offer love and hope to all God’s children, especially those who struggle.

This Advent, make a ‘Star of Hope’ to remind us of the light and hope we can bring to the world through our prayers and through our sharing. In this way, we will be like the star and lead others to Jesus.

Vicky Brock from Inverness, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

We've almost finished the first week of Advent, our time of hopeful preparation for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. We still have three weeks to wait until Jesus is born! Today, write an Advent prayer or poem. Try to include the words: hope, wait, light, love, Mary, Jesus.

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. In Catholic churches around the world, we hear John the Baptist telling everyone to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Mark 1:1-8).

He was telling them to get their hearts ready for Jesus by clearing away anything that would get in the way, like being unkind, unhelpful or not saying sorry.

Being sorry for our sins and asking for forgiveness helps us make more room for Jesus and the love of God in our hearts. It is like building a straight, smooth road rather than a bumpy one blocked by rusty gates or deep potholes. Every time we clear another obstacle from the road, we get our hearts even more ready to welcome Jesus.

So, as Christmas gets closer, Advent gives us these four weeks to get ready for Jesus and make a clear path into our hearts and our lives. And remember: you can always stop, say sorry and make a new start! Christmas is coming. Jesus is coming. Let's keep getting ready!

Saint John the Baptist and the Pharisees - James Tissot

In yesterday’s Gospel, John the Baptist told us to get ready for Jesus and make a clear path into our hearts and our lives. We can do this by remembering to stop, say sorry and make a new start. If we all do this, standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in our global family, we can build a whole world of love and peace.

Sadly, there are many countries in the world today that are not at peace. Let us keep these countries in our hearts as we say the following prayer together.

Loving God and Father of all,

Hear our prayer for peace in our world.

Protect all children living through war,

Help them to stay safe and feel loved.

Strengthen all adults hurt by war,

Help them to forgive and to heal.

Guide all leaders who work to end war,

Help them to stay hopeful and wise.

Loving God, your Son, Jesus, showed us how to be peacemakers.

Help us to follow his example,

And live in peace as your global family. Amen.

This Prayer for Peace can be found on the Mission Together Prayer Resources webpage, in our collection of Values and Virtues prayers.

This week, find somewhere quiet to sit and make a peace paper chain. As you decorate each link, think about the ways you can build peace by working with others. Say a silent prayer for the people around you and for the people who are special to you in your family or group of friends. You can do this by just picturing their face in your mind or by saying their name in your head.

This week, the second of Advent, we are reflecting on the importance of peace. Peace isn't just about freedom from fighting or war - although this is very important. Peace can also mean a feeling calm and quiet. Finding places where we can be still, quiet, and breathe slowly, even if only for a few seconds, can help us to find a sense of peace. Churches are good places for this, as are other spaces where people stop and pray: mosques, temples, even in the great outdoors. In the Gospels we hear how Jesus would often go to spend quiet and still time alone with God the Father. Let's do that now for a few seconds. We'll begin with the sign of the cross, then close our eyes or rest our heads on our desks, for a few seconds of quiet time.

God our Father,

In this time of quiet, I find my peace in you.

Through your Holy Spirit,

I share peace with others too.

Then, through your Son’s example,

Together we might build,

A world where peace is valued,

And war and fighting stilled.

Amen.

In this second week of Advent we have thought about peace. It is hard to be a peacemaker if we are angry and aggressive. Gentleness is a tool that helps to build peace, because gentleness makes people feel safe and loved. Today, through the words of this prayer, let's ask God to help us be gentle.

Loving Father,
In the Bible we read how your Son, Jesus, called himself 'gentle in heart'.
Help me to be gentle, too.
Help me to use gentle actions like your Son,
So that others know that I care.
Help me to use gentle words like your Son,
Even when defending what is right and true.
Lord, some think that gentleness is weak.
Help me to remember the courage of your Son,
Who was not afraid to be gentle, and not afraid to speak out.
We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Gentleness Prayer can be found on the Mission Together Prayer Resources webpage, in our collection of Values & Virtues Prayers.

During this second week of Advent, we have reflected on the importance of peace. There are lots of beautiful carols that help us to think about the peace that Jesus brought into the world. One famous carol is Silent Night. This carol is so peaceful that, on Christmas Eve 1914, it even stopped soldiers fighting. As the night drew in, a German soldier in the trenches began to sing Silent Night, then an English soldier joined him. Before long, their fellow soldiers joined the singing too. The peace stretched miles down the trench line and, in some places, lasted for days.

During a moment of quiet prayer, listen carefully to Silent Night and think carefully about the words.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete (gow-day-tay). Gaudete means ‘rejoice’ and we light the third candle, the pink candle, as a sign of warmth, happiness and rejoicing. In Catholic churches around the world, we will hear the words ‘Rejoice always’ spoken and sung (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24).

The closer we get to Christmas and the more candles we light on our wreath, the lighter and brighter (and perhaps more exciting) it becomes. During the darkest days of winter, perhaps the twinkling decorations and sparkling lights of Christmas trees will also remind us to rejoice as we get ready to greet Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. (John 1:6-8, 19-28)

Christmas is coming. Let’s rejoice and get ready for Jesus!

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56552

On Gaudete Sunday, the pink candle was lit. The word Gaudete (gow-day-tay) means ‘rejoice’. Mary rejoiced when she learned that she was to become the Mother of God’s Son. In response, she sang a beautiful song of praise to her cousin Elizabeth. This song, known as The Magnificat, is found in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 1:46-55). It is also sung every day by Catholics throughout the world during Evening Prayer.

Use Mary’s words to think about what you rejoice for today. What brings you joy?

My soul glorifies the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
Henceforth all generations will call me blessed.                                                                                                                    The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
And scatters the proud hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
And raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
Sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

GLOBAL FAMILY FACT: This week we are focusing on the joy that Jesus brings. On the island of Mauke, in the continent of Oceania, the people prepare for the birth of Jesus with an Advent visiting tradition known as Rangokere. During Rangokere, huge baskets of food are shared between the two main villages on the island. The baskets are shared with everyone, whatever their faith. People also sing and dance, so that the whole community can share friendship and joy together. The people of Mauke know how important it is to share with everyone. Who can we share friendship and joy with this week?

You can discover more global Advent traditions in our Preparing for Christmas around the world assembly. Find it here.

During Advent, we remember how God’s angels brought the joyful news of Jesus’ coming to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. The angels’ joyful visits and the special message they shared are remembered each year when angel decorations are placed on our Christmas trees. The tradition of putting angels on Christmas trees began hundreds of years ago in Germany, but today the practice is followed around the world.

Angels are messengers who bring God’s word to earth. Words are very powerful. We can use our words to encourage, to provide guidance, and to spread love and joy. Let's spend a moment in silence, asking God to help you spread love and joy with your words today.

Have a go at making your own 'Joyful Angel', with our Mission Together craft activity. You can find it on our Advent webpage. 

Ander van der Wel from Netherlands, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Yesterday we reflected on God's angels and how they brought the joyful news of Jesus' coming to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. One way we can also share this joyful news is by sending cards that show scenes from the Christmas story e.g. the Holy Family, the shepherds, the wise men. It can sometimes be hard finding cards that show this, so spend some time today creating your own. Let's finish by praying the Hail Mary, for anyone who may not receive any Christmas cards this year:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Have a go at making your own Christmas cards by using our Mission Together craft activity. You can find this on our Advent webpage. 

GLOBAL FAMILY FACT: Every year, in the last days of Advent, children in Mexico remember Mary and Joseph's arrival in Bethlehem. This Advent tradition is called Posada. During each Posada, children carry painted clay figures of Mary and Joseph, and call at the houses of friends and neighbors to ask if Mary and Joseph can stay for the night. The answer is usually no, so the children have to keep searching. Eventually they find a welcoming house. Once Mary and Joseph are inside, everyone says prayers of thanks and then the children have a joyful Posada Party!

Spend some quiet time thinking of those who are looking for somewhere to stay this Christmas. Let us ask God to keep homeless people and refugees in his care, and to help us offer welcome and kindness to all God's children.

You may want to finish with the carol, 'Go tell it on the Mountain'. You can find a sing-along version here. You can discover more global Advent traditions in our Preparing for Christmas around the world assembly. Find it here.

We’ve almost finished the third week of Advent, our time of preparation for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. This week we have reflected on the deep-down joy that comes from knowing God loves us, forgives us, and is delighted by us. We can even feel this joy in difficult times. Today, spend some time quietly thanking Jesus for showing us how much God the Father loves us. Say a prayer for any children who may be feeling sad or lonely and ask God to help you share his joy with them.

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. In Catholic churches around the world, the story will be heard of Angel Gabriel visiting Mary to ask her an important question (Luke 1:26-38).

This sculpture helps us focus on the extraordinary moment when Mary, a young girl who loved and trusted God, hears the question and agrees to become the mother of his Son.

Mary may have wondered if she could carry out such an important mission. But she still said yes. Just think for a moment about how much courage and faith that must have taken.

Sometimes we think that being courageous means being big, strong and confident. But Mary shows us that this isn't always true. Even when we feel small, uncertain or afraid, we can still be courageous. With courage and faith, we can help to change the world.

The Annunciation: Santa Rita Abbey, Sister Esther Sawal, OCSO. santaritaabbey.org/sculpture/

Christmas is a time for welcoming visitors. Why not learn how to say ‘Happy Christmas’ in other languages?

• Spanish: ¡Feliz Navidad!
• French: Joyeux Noël!
• Italian: Buon Natale!
• Czech – Veselé Vánoce!
• Filipino: Maligayang Pasko
• Punjabi: ਮੇਰੀ ਕਰਿਸਮਸ (Mērī Karisamasa)
• Igbo: E keresimesi oma
• Swahili: Krismasi Njema
• Maori: Meri Kirihimete

Or, listen to and learn from pupils in Cameroon sing a Christmas song about forgiveness. The children recorded the song for us in a classroom that Mission Together - with your support - helped the local community to build. Click here to view.

This week, billions of people around the world are getting ready for the birth of Jesus. Christmas reminds us that Jesus was born to show God the Father’s love for all his children – whoever they are and wherever they live. How wonderful, that on every continent people are preparing, just as we are, to celebrate the birth of God’s Son, Jesus. Today, let’s say the Lord’s Prayer for all our sisters and brothers around the world. Pay close attention to the words of the prayer – they are words that Jesus taught us and they remind us that we are all children of one God, our Father in heaven:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;

Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Carol singing during Advent is a cherished tradition in many Catholic communities. The word carol originally referred to a song accompanied by dancing rather than specifically a Christmas song. During the Middle Ages, popular religious songs in local languages began to tell the story of Christ's birth in a way ordinary people could understand.

Over time, many of these songs became associated with the Advent and Christmas seasons. Catholics across Europe sing them in churches, homes, marketplaces, and during processions.

Why not hold a Carol Service for your family. Sing our Advent carol ‘We are Waiting’ or another one of our sing-along carols to help you get ready for Jesus. You can find them on our webpage here.

Global family fact: In the Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa), children and adults prepare for the birth of Jesus with drama and music. On the evening of Christmas Eve, people gather in churches to take part in and watch a very special nativity play. These nativity plays last for hours, as they begin with the Bible story of creation and the garden of Eden. The play then continues the Bible story and includes the messages of the prophets, until it finally reaches Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. The play doesn’t finish until about 1 o’clock in the morning, as the birth of Jesus happens as close to midnight as possible, and the shepherds and wise men are still to arrive! 

Take some time to read the Christmas story at bedtime. Then ask God to bless you, your family and our global family, with the love, peace and joy that Jesus brought to the world at Christmas.  

Discover more global Advent traditions in our Preparing for Christmas around the world assembly. Find it here.