We are continuing to observe Extended Advent at St. Gabriel’s, and today is the start of Extended Advent Week 3. Here is our Advent Family Activity Calendar, our prayers for families, and our traditional prayers for the third week of Extended Advent that begins Sunday, November 21, 2021.
Family Advent Activity Calendar for Nov. 21-27, 2021
Sun. Nov. 21st Today is the 3rd Sun. of Advent. Gather your family around the Advent wreath and light 3 purple candles and say the prayer for the 3rd week. Pray for peace in the world.
Mon. Nov. 22nd As days get colder, birds start having a harder time finding fresh water. Commit to putting a pie tin of fresh water out on a table on your patio or porch occasionally during the cold months where birds can find it. Be like St. Francis and care for the birds!
Tues. Nov. 23rd Before we lived in the Bethany area, there were indigenous people called the Chinook (among others) who lived here. Go to https://bitly.ws/geNC to find out more about how they lived and read their creation story. Wed. Nov. 24th Go out in your yard, public wetlands, or grocery store and see what you can use to make a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table- branches with berries, cattails, grass stalks, dried or fresh flowers. Carve out a pumpkin, add water, and make a harvest arrangement.
Thu. Nov. 25th Either before or after you eat Thanksgiving dinner, go around the table and each person mention something they are thankful for this holiday. Sing the Doxology together!
Fri. Nov. 26th Some people use this day for shopping. Instead, think of some things you could make gifts from that would use things from nature or from recycled materials. Go to Pinterest for some great ideas and get busy!
Sat. Nov. 27th Have you set up your Nativity set yet? Take the Wise Ones and place them far from the manger. Move them a little closer every day. Hide baby Jesus until Dec. 24th.
Extended Advent Prayers for Families with Children
3rd Sunday of Advent– Ruler of Nations 11/21/21
(Light 3 purple candles)
We are in the time
when our nights are growing longer,
and our days are getting short.
Yes, it can seem cold and dark.
But–when we light the candles
nestled in the green branches,
we see light shining through the darkness
and we remember what God promised us:
Jesus is coming!
God, we are all immigrants.
We came to where we are now
and hoped we would be taken in.
We were.
Give us the grace to do the same for others.
We are waiting. Amen.
WAYS TO HELP Refugees:
- Go to Episcopalmigrationministries.org/afghan-allies, the settlement and migration ministry of The Episcopal Church to find out how to help including volunteering and donating money.
- Look for a group at St. Gabriel that is forming as of this writing to help Afghan refugee families settle in Portland and support them.
- Support DACA legislation.
- Read out loud and discuss a Bible passage on accepting immigrants every day this week as a family:
- 1 Chronicles 16:19-22; Deuteronomy 19:34 and 27:19; Psalm 146:9; Jeremiah 7:5-7; Romans 13:8; Colossians 3:11; Hebrews 13:1-3.
- Read books to your children about the immigrant experience like:
- What Is a Refugee? by Elisa Gravel
- Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña
- The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee
Traditional Extended Advent Prayers
Prayers written by Carol A. Doran, DMA, Rev. Elise Feyerherm, PhD, and The Very Rev’d William H. Petersen, PhD, DD
3rd Sunday of Advent– Ruler of Nations 11/21/21
(Light 3 purple candles)
Leader: As our nights grow longer and our days grow short, we look on these earthly signs–light and green branches– and remember God’s promise to our world: Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come. Listen to these words from the Revelation to John:
“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: ‘Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations! Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.’” (Revelation 15:2-4)
Candle is lit while All sing:
O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid thou our sad divisions cease, and be thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Leader: Let us pray.
All: God of power and love, you raised Jesus from death to life, resplendent in glory to rule over all creation. Free the world to rejoice in his peace, to glory in his justice, and to live in his love. Unite all humankind in Jesus Christ your Son, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
WAYS TO HELP Refugees:
- Go to episcopalmigrationministries.org/afghan-allies, the settlement and migration ministry of The Episcopal Church to find out how to help including volunteering and donating money.
- Look for a group at St. Gabriel that is forming as of this writing to help Afghan refugee families settle in Portland and support them.
- Support DACA legislation.
- Read out loud and discuss a Bible passage on accepting immigrants every day this week as a family:
1 Chronicles 16:19-22; Deuteronomy 19:34 and 27:19; Psalm 146:9; Jeremiah 7:5-7; Romans 13:8; Colossians 3:11; Hebrews 13:1-3.
- Read books about the immigrant experience like:
- Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
- The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman
- Read books to your children about the immigrant experience like:
What Is a Refugee? by Elisa Gravel
Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña
The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee
