We are continuing to observe Extended Advent at St. Gabriel’s, and Sunday November 28th is the beginning of Extended Advent Week 4. Here is our Advent Family Activity Calendar, our prayers for families, and our traditional prayers for the fourth week of Extended Advent.
Family Advent Activity Calendar for Nov. 28- Dec. 4, 2021
Sun. Nov. 28th Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent. Gather around your Advent wreath- you may need to replace some of the greens with fresh ones. Light 4 purple candles and say the prayers for week 4. Think how excited Mary and Joseph were with their baby only a month away! Mon. Nov. 29th Hanukkah starts today for our Jewish friends. Hear and see the story by watching a video on YouTube here: https://bitly.ws/geNK.
Tues. Nov. 30th Jesus, help remind me each day that of all the wonderful gifts of Advent, you are the best one.
Wed. Dec. 1st For many families, this is the day to start decorating the house for the holidays. What is your favorite decoration? Ask if you can find a special place for it.
Thu. Dec. 2nd Say this prayer: Dear God, sometimes I get caught up in the excitement of the season. Give me strength to resist thinking only about gifts I want and think more about the gift of Jesus being born. Amen.
Fri. Dec. 3rd Make sure you have an angel decoration on your tree in honor of St. Gabriel. If you don’t have one, make one and hang it. Read what St. Gabriel said to Mary in Luke 1:26-38.
Sat. Dec. 4th This would be a good day to bake some holiday cookies! Which is your favorite? Bake them and drop some off to an elderly neighbor.
Advent Prayers for Families with Children
4th Sunday of Advent– Root of Jesse 11/28/21
(Light 4 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 through the darkness
and we remember what God promised us:
Jesus is coming!
Dear God,
Some of us are weary of online learning.
Many of us miss our friends and being in school.
Help us find ways to learn while being safe.
Protect our teachers and school staff.
Let some of us learn online if we feel safer that way.
Show us, Jesus, the greatest teacher of all, the way.
We are waiting. Amen.
WAYS TO HELP Children at School:
Get your child vaccinated if they are eligible, and encourage others to do so as well.
Teach your child how to wear a mask safely and provide them with several clean ones each day when they attend school. Model mask-wearing yourself.
Continue to encourage hand washing with soap.
Pack small hand sanitizers in your child’s backpack for when hand washing with soap isn’t available.
Keep your child home if they feel or seem sick.
Ahead of the sniffles, know where you can get your child a PCR or diagnostic Covid test quickly. Check with your pediatrician to see if they have them available.
Prayer in BCP for the care of children on page 829.
Advent Prayers for Adults
4th Sunday of Advent–Root of Jesse 11/28/21
(Light 4 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 the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth….The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them….They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6, 9-10)
Candle is lit while All sing:
O come, thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, free them from Satan’s tyranny that trust thy might power to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
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Leader: Let us pray.
All: Almighty God, you brought forth a royal branch from the ancient stock of Jesse’s line: Grant that we who have been grafted into this heritage may bear fruit worthy of Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.
WAYS TO HELP Children at School:
- If you have children who are eligible, get them vaccinated, and encourage others to do so as well.
- Teach your child how to wear a mask safely and provide them with several clean ones each day when they attend school. Model mask-wearing yourself.
- Pack small hand sanitizers in your child’s backpack for when hand washing with soap isn’t available.
Keep your child home if they feel or seem sick. - Ahead of the sniffles, know where you and your child can get your child a PCR or diagnostic Covid test quickly. Check with your physician or pediatrician to see if they have them available.
- Prayer in BCP for the care of children on page 829.
