The Joy of Advent

54 Pages·2017·5.24 MB·English

JOY
The of the
G O S P E L
FOUR LESSONS FOR ADVENT 2017
December 3, 2017
First Sunday of Advent
December 10, 2017
Second Sunday of Advent
December 17, 2016
Third Sunday of Advent
December 24, 2016
Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Joy of Advent: Week 1
Learning Goals
ӹ Advent is a time for waiting and for
Connection to the
preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ,
not only as a baby at Christmas, but also Catechism of the
at the end of time in His promised Second Catholic Church
Coming.
ӹ CCC 522-525
ӹ God prepared His people from the very
beginning for Christ’s coming and for
Vocabulary
salvation.
ӹ Advent
ӹ The Advent wreath and candles, the Jesse
Tree, and Advent calendars are symbols of ӹ Advent Wreath
the Advent season. ӹ Advent Calendar
ӹ Jesse Tree
ӹ Messiah
BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped
from his roots a bud shall blossom. him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in
ISAIAH 11:1
the inn.
LUKE 2:7
5
Lesson Plan
Materials ӹ Handout A: Joy of the Gospel: ӹ Handout C: Advent: The
First Week of Advent Coming of Our Savior
ӹ Handout B: Advent: The (Lower Elementary)
Coming of Our Savior ӹ Handout D: Waiting
(Upper Elementary) ӹ Handout E: Advent Poem
ӹ Handout F: Symbols of Advent
ӹ Handout G: Ornament Template
Prayer Dear God, we praise you and adore you. Thank you for preparing us,
your people, for the coming of your Son. Thank you for sending Jesus to
us, to show us your love and to save us from sin. Help us to prepare our
hearts to welcome your Son at Christmas. Help us to know the joy that
He brings to the world. Amen.
DAY ONE
HANDOUT A
Joy of the Gospel: First Week of Advent Warm Up
A. Begin by leading your students in the prayer for
A Reading from the Gospel of Mark 13:33-37:
Need for Watchfulness
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! therefore; you do not know when the Lord of this lesson.
Be alert! You do not know when the time the house is coming, whether in the evening,
will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the
He leaves home and places his servants in morning. May he not come suddenly and find
charge, each with his own work, and orders you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: B. Distribute to your students the Handout A: Joy
the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, ‘Watch!’”
Focus Questions of the Gospel: First Week of Advent worksheet.
1. What did Jesus warn His disciples to do? Why?
Have students read the Gospel passage (or read
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. In the parable that Jesus tells, what do the servants and gatekeeper need to do? Why? it together) and answer the focus questions.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. The Latin root of the word Advent means “coming.” Why do you think this is a good Gospel C. When finished, review the correct answers to
reading for the first week of Advent?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
the focus questions.
4. What are some ways that you prepare for Christmas? What traditions do you and your
family have?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________ D. Activity extension: If you have set up an Advent
wreath and candles in your class (see the
formative assessment for day 2 of this lesson),
have a “lighting” ceremony of the first candle
© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 11 before reading the Gospel for this week.
6 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN
Activity
A. Explain to your students that this Sunday marks the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning
of the first week of the Advent season. Advent is a liturgical season in the life of the Church. We
celebrate Advent in the four weeks that lead up to Christmas Day. Advent is a time for waiting
and for preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ, not only as a baby at Christmas, but also at the
end of time in His promised Second Coming.
B. Continue to explain that, over the next few weeks, your students will learn more about Advent
and the signs and symbols of the season and will do some activities to help them enter more
deeply into this time of waiting and preparation.
C. Distribute to your students the worksheets
Handouts B and C: Advent: The Coming of HAAdNDvOUeTn Bt: The Coming of Our Savior
Our Savior. (If you teach upper-elementary Directions: Reawasde t athhweeya ieatsw Hsaaiisyt eSadeb cotohunet d Afi dCrsvotem ncoitn magni andtg tt hohefe nt eh anend Ss woavfe iro rt,h e foawclule se w lqsieull,e basenti dwo nleoslcv. oinmg eodu irn ntoe itghheb oetre arsn aolu lrifsee lHvees ,
time. Then, all things will be made new. Then, has promised and offered us from the very
God preparedi fH wise p heaovpel eli vfoedr thhoel yc olimveisn gb yo lfo vinugs G thode garbeoavten ess boef gthinen Finagth. er’s love for us.
students, distribute Handout B; if you teach it cant hbee Msaeisds tiahhaF tf oGoroc mdu absne yQg acunee nttosu tpriiroeensp. saInr e f afocrt , AHned s uthffeenr eHde a gnadv ed iHedis t loif em faokre u usp o fno trh oeu Cr rsoinsss..
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discuss the focus questions orally. Use reading
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© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 15
and discussion strategies that work in your
16 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
classroom.
© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 17
E. When finished, discuss the answers to the
focus questions.
HANDOUT D
Waiting
Directions: In the space below, describe or draw a picture of a time when you had to wait for
Formative Assessment something good to happen. Why were you waiting? What was it like to have to
wait? What did you do to pass the time? How did you prepare for what you were
waiting for? How did you feel after you were done waiting?
A. Distribute to your students the worksheet
Handout D: Waiting. Then explain to them
that we wait for all kinds of things in our
lives. We wait in line to check out at the
grocery store. We sit in the waiting room
when we see a doctor. We wait at stop
lights, and we wait for the bus to pick us up.
We wait for phone calls from friends and
family members. We wait for our birthday
to come, and we wait for holidays and days
off from school. 18 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
THE JOy OF ADvENT : WEEk 1 7
LESSON PLAN
B. Then ask your students the following questions:
ӹ What are some other things that we wait for? Accept reasoned answers.
ӹ Is the thing or event we wait for better or worse because we have to wait for it? Accept
reasoned answers. Some things we wait for could be worse because we have to wait for them,
such as getting a shot at the doctor’s office. Other things are better because we have to wait for
them, such as when we anticipate the fun we’ll have at a birthday party.
C. Have your students complete the reflection activity on Handout D: Waiting. You may have your
students write about or draw a picture of a time when they had to wait for something good.
D. When finished, consider calling on a few students to share their stories or drawings. You may
have them share with the whole class or in groups.
DAY TWO
HANDOUT E
Advent Poem Warm-Up
Directions: Wyoruitre p aone mac srohsotuicld p doeesmcr uibsein sgo tmheet lheitntge rasb ionu tth Aed wvoenrdt oArd Cvehnrtis. tEmacahs. statement of Distribute to each student the Handout E: Advent
A Poem worksheet. Have your students create an
acrostic poem using the letters of the word Advent.
D
Each line of the poem should describe some aspect
V of Advent or Christmas.
E
Activity
N
HSAyNDmOUbT oFls of Advent A. Explain to your students that the Advent season
T JJTehesess eps wreoa pTsAh rteehdtee vI sfeaantiahthe Wrw orrfoe Ktaein tthgh aData n“vadi d .C andles is filled with signs, symbols, and traditions to
Advent CalensJdehsaosoret, sahnadTtlo lhf rsreope mArflode uhvcteits nf orrtono wm otrth sete haa mte hb se ubtaduen mgsinahpgna oloal ffs Aad wvaeyn tf oinr ftahmeiirli es Tonhee fworre eaatchh i sw deeecko oraf tAeddv wenitth. Ofonuer ccaannddllee sis,
Apans Asidnvge dnat yc aolfe tnhdbaeabl orAo sdiussvto a etm nhw”te hA a( sfy1odea1 mv:atm1oes)e.oin lmsIynts. a.awTt rTrioarkehedh eeeaa wa otyAhcf,a d h mKsdv iuweonrnsrgittin t DCgina atgvth hisfdeooui.r rlci cchr ee cafllheseu bacrr tcatioohtiyneo s;on or uo rscf ea at nnha dneay c;t iav iStlwicyter toieopnk td uotohrfe efA o pSdrauv esensandactgah.ey Td ahatye t fihers bt etgwion ncianngd olef se aanchd help us reflect on and prepare for the coming of
calendar usually Cheans tsumriaelslA dbdoevofeornrste os treh awes iobnnidr. otThwh ose f wCrheraiosttfh ,A isd vuesnuta.l lOy nmea bdye o onfe , theth deo foorus ratrhe c oapnednlee da re usually purple. Purple
© SOPHIA INSTITUTE tFhaOt Rar eT oEpAeCneHdE eIsRaacSihah d faoyr eeovtfo earlddgv rteehneatnt. obBurearhn iSncadhv eios rf owromuoelndd t ihnet oc aal ecnirdcaler .u Tnhteil Chriisst ma acso lEovre o, fw pheenna tn1hcee9 . It represents sorrow
each door is an imbea ga ed oefs cJceeisnrudcslae;n art e sopmfr aKelsiln eggni ftDts, a evtiedr.n Haelc leiflee.b Trahteio gnr eoefn C chorliostrm as bfoerg ionusr. sins. The third candle is pink. This
wuso furlodm b esoo itnffh toaehnu oedrn whfeuor wlepfiaehltl o hfao wlrrl e oospuafr llGevdaso setdaino’vstne s ahnodp ee.t eItr nisa al lsifyem tbhoatl rise pcoremseinngt ss oreojno.i cTihneg pbiencka ucasen doluer i sS alivti oorn Christ. Distribute to your students the Handout
promisesC. hrist won for us on the Cross. the third Sunday of Advent, which is called
TCChhherrii ssJettmmssaaess T ttrrreeeeee ,.i sIbn us itfma icti tlia,s rt n htooet ta ar a dition Gftrhaoeum Ld ietghtheet S loiutf n ctdahaneyd W,l eoosrr rRldeep.j oreicsee nStusn Jdeasyu.s T, hweh loig ihs t F: Symbols of Advent worksheets (or give each
of decorating a tree for winter
holidays predates Christianity! Early
Ccrheraitsetida nths eb oJersrsoew Terde teh ien iodredae arn tdo student one of the three different worksheets).
make the practice more Christian.
During Advent, a tree is decorated
with ornaments that represent the
iSmalpvoatritoann tH eivsetonrtys tahnadt pperoeppaler eind the Have your students read about the symbols of
way for the coming of Jesus. Each
week new ornaments are added to the
tree to help tell the story of how God
prepared His people to receive the Advent and color the images.
salvation that He promised.
B. When they have finished, review the Advent
20 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS symbols by asking your students the following:
© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 21
ӹ Which symbol of Advent is made from
22 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
evergreen branches formed into a circle?
The Advent wreath.
ӹ On which symbol of Advent are small
doors opened to reveal an image of Jesus, a
Scripture passage, or a small toy or piece of
candy? The Advent calendar.
8 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN
ӹ The circular shape of which symbol of Advent represents eternal life? The Advent wreath.
ӹ Which symbol of Advent is decorated with ornaments that represent important events and
people from Salvation History? The Jesse Tree.
ӹ The green color of which symbol of Advent represents hope for salvation? The Advent wreath.
ӹ Which symbol of Advent is connected to a prophecy from the Old Testament prophet
Isaiah? The Jesse Tree.
ӹ Which symbol of Advent marks each passing day of the season? The Advent calendar.
ӹ Which symbol of Advent is decorated with four candles, each representing one of the weeks
of Advent? The Advent wreath.
ӹ Which symbol of Advent borrows the idea of a decoration for winter holidays that predates
Christianity? The Jesse Tree.
ӹ What do the purple candles of the Advent wreath represent? Sorrow for sins, or repentance.
ӹ What does the pink candle of the Advent wreath represent? Rejoicing because our Savior is
coming soon.
C. As an alternate lesson suggestion, arrange your students in groups of three or four. Assign each
group one of the symbols of Advent. Have them read about their assigned symbol and color the
image. Then have each group give a short presentation to the class about their symbol.
Formative Assessment
Consider doing one or all of the following during this
HANDOUT G
Ornament Template
Advent season:
ӹ Set up a Christmas tree in your classroom as a
Jesse Tree and have your students decorate it with
ornaments representing events or people from
Salvation History that prepared for the coming of
Jesus. Distribute Handout G: Ornament Template
and have your students creatively illustrate
different events. You may choose a day each week
of Advent to have your students create and hang
new ornaments on the tree, or spend one lesson
at the beginning of Advent having them create
and hang new ornaments. Suggestions for Jesse
© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 23
Tree ornament symbols, including Scripture
verses to read, can be found at CatholicCulture.
org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.
cfm?id=545. Consider looking up and reading aloud or
retelling the Scripture stories as you add each person
or event to your class Jesse Tree.
THE JOy OF ADvENT : WEEk 1 9
LESSON PLAN
ӹ Set up an Advent wreath with candles in a prominent place in your classroom. Have a “lighting”
ceremony at the beginning of each week of Advent. Consider reading that week’s Gospel
reading as part of the lighting ceremony and having a discussion about it using the focus
questions from that week’s Joy of the Gospel lesson.
ӹ Create an Advent-calendar bulletin board in your classroom with flaps of paper that you can
open each day during Advent. Decorate the calendar with different images of Christmas, Jesus,
or images from Salvation History. Each flap could reveal a Scripture passage from the story of
Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-20), allowing you to read the Christmas story aloud throughout Advent. Or,
the flaps could reveal some sort of prizes for your students, or any creative idea that you think
is appropriate.
10 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
HANDOUT A
Joy of the Gospel: First Week of Advent
A Reading from the Gospel of Mark 13:33-37:
Need for Watchfulness
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! therefore; you do not know when the Lord of
Be alert! You do not know when the time the house is coming, whether in the evening,
will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the
He leaves home and places his servants in morning. May he not come suddenly and find
charge, each with his own work, and orders you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all:
the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, ‘Watch!’”
Focus Questions
1. What did Jesus warn His disciples to do? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. In the parable that Jesus tells, what do the servants and gatekeeper need to do? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. The Latin root of the word Advent means “coming.” Why do you think this is a good Gospel
reading for the first week of Advent?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What are some ways that you prepare for Christmas? What traditions do you and your
family have?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 11
HANDOUT B
Advent: The Coming of Our Savior
Directions: Read the essay about Advent and then answer the focus questions.
God prepared His people for the coming of us the greatness of the Father’s love for us.
the Messiah for many centuries. In fact, And then He gave His life for us on the Cross.
it can be said that God began to prepare for He suffered and died to make up for our sins.
the Savior’s coming from the very beginning. Then He rose from the dead. Our God died
God created our first parents, Adam and Eve, for us and defeated death, opening the gate of
to live in perfect harmony with Him in the Heaven to us. Our salvation had come!
Garden of Eden. They were made to know and
Today, and over the centuries, the Catholic
love God as Father, and to be loved by Him.
Church has celebrated the coming of our
But, because of the temptation of the serpent,
Savior at Christmas. And like all those who
Adam and Eve sinned. They turned away from
waited and prepared for the coming of our
God’s love and brought sin and death into the
Savior for the thousands of years before He
world. Even though God allowed Adam and
came on the first Christmas, the Church
Eve to experience the consequences of their
today takes a moment to wait and to prepare.
sin, He immediately promised them that they
We call this time Advent. Advent is a season
would be saved from their sin one day. God
in the life of the Church in which we prepare
promised a Savior!
our hearts to receive Christ and the salvation
God’s promised salvation did not happen He offers us. It is a time to draw close to God,
right away, however. In fact, sin had so badly to reflect on all that He has done for us, and
wounded the human race that God had to to be thankful for all the blessings He has
prepare us to receive our salvation. And so, given us. It is a time to pray to God, to talk
gradually, by word and deed, God worked in to Him, and to allow Him to speak to us. It
human history to move us ever closer to the is a time to follow the example of Christ in
fullness of relationship with Him that He so a special way and to serve others, especially
desired. those who are sick, suffering, or in need. It is
a time to make room in our hearts and lives
Then, at the appointed time, God sent His
for Christ to come and dwell with us.
only, beloved Son to earth. The Second
Person of the Holy Trinity assumed a human During Advent, we not only prepare for the
nature and became man in the Person of coming of Christ as a child at Christmas, but
Jesus Christ. Born on Christmas Day in a we look forward to His promised Second
stable in a small town called Bethlehem to a Coming. Even though our salvation has
virgin named Mary, God became like us in all already been won by Christ’s sacrifice on the
things but sin. Fully God and fully man, Jesus Cross, those of us alive today are not unlike
Christ taught us how to be holy and showed those who lived thousands of years ago. Just
12 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
as they awaited the first coming of the Savior, all else, and loving our neighbor as ourselves,
we await His Second Coming at the end of we will be welcomed into the eternal life He
time. Then, all things will be made new. Then, has promised and offered us from the very
if we have lived holy lives by loving God above beginning.
Focus Questions
1. Why did God promise to send the Messiah?
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2. Why did God’s promised salvation not happen right away?
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3. Whom did God send to save us? What are three things He did?
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4. What is Advent? What are two things we do during Advent?
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5. What else do we prepare for during the Advent season?
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