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Here is our Christmas Countdown Clock! Day Twenty One activities If you have an Advent Wreath - here is a short reading and ceremony before lighting the Four candles. Advent 4: VOICE 1: Today is the last Sunday in Advent, the time when we remember Mary, the mother of Jesus, chosen by God. We remember how she humbly received God's will as her own. VOICE 2: "And Mary said 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word'." ... "My Soul praises the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour ... Holy is His name." VOICE 3: We light the fourth candle to remember Mary and her obedience and faith, We remember her joyful experience, and yet she suffered exile and hardship with her child, and lived to see him die, that all might Live and share in His experience and through Him be brought nearer to God. Prayer: Loving God our Father we thank You for Your eternal Love to us. On this Fourth Sunday in Advent, as we light the fourth candle, we are reminded of Mary, the woman chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. We remember her Faith, and willing obedience, we remember too the joys and sorrows that she experienced as she brought the special Christ Child into the world, loved and cared for him, in childhood and manhood. Father we thank for Mary's example, help us to be faithful in what we have been given, grant that we too might be willing to serve, to love unreservedly and to forgive as we have been forgiven. As the light of these candles illuminates our home, grant that the Light of the World would illuminate our Souls this Christmas. Lord hear our prayer. Amen. For the last few days left as we near Christmas we will read the Christmas story and today we we will begin with the Birth of Jesus - I know it is a few days early but there is so much to the story that we need to begin now: The Birth of Jesus - Luke Ch1 v1 to 7. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Here is the shepherds story as told by one of the number who had been on the hills that night. He is telling his story to some friends: “One night I was in the hills near Bethlehem with my father and a few of his friends. There was a census on, and you know, and everyone was supposed to go back to their homes to be counted so the Romans could figure out how much tax we had to pay. Well, my father and my uncle and I and some of our friends decided to stay out in the hills until it was over. Fewer heads for the Romans to count.” We all laughed. Shepherds had the reputation of being rogues. “Well, this particular night we got the sheep settled down and we were sitting round the fire. The older men were joking and telling stories. “I was starting to get sleepy when suddenly there was a bright light all around us, and a man dressed in a shining robe appeared out of nowhere. He was glowing, like he had a fire inside him.” “An angel?” Abiel asked. Jonathan nodded. “We were afraid, I can tell you. But the angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid of me. I haven’t come to hurt you. I have brought some good news—wonderful news for everyone.’ Abiel and I gestured impatiently for the shepherd to go on. “Well,” Jonathan went on, “the angel said, ‘Today in Bethlehem, a Savior has been born to you. He is the anointed One — the Lord.’” “The Messiah!” Abiel said, his eyes wide. Again Jonathan nodded. “The angel told us to go see this baby, who would be wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger in Bethlehem. Then the whole sky was full of angels singing, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to those he favors.’ Then, as suddenly as they appeared, they were gone. “We hurried to Bethlehem and found a man named Joseph and his wife Mary with their baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger in the stable of an inn. The animals had been moved to one end, and one of the stalls had been cleaned out. Mary was young — no more than 15, I suppose. She was sitting on a pile of straw. It was all exactly like the angel had said. “My father told Joseph about the angel and how it told us to come see them. Joseph said they’d come to Bethlehem for the census, but there’d been no room for them at the inn. The baby was coming, so the owner let them use the stable. Joseph also told us how an angel had told Mary and later told him that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah and that even though she was still a virgin, she would become pregnant with this special child from God. “Mary had been shocked, Joseph told us, because she had always been a very virtuous person. But she trusted God. Joseph looked at his wife and we could see the love and respect in his eyes. “I watched Mary while the men were talking, and I was struck by how calm she was. It was like God’s own peace was resting on her. She must have been exhausted, but there was a mysterious beauty about her. I don’t know how else to describe it, but I never forgot her.” A Christmas Poem Just Once: Held fast by loving arms warm, wanted, loved, secure, Dreamed his baby dreams Behind that stable door. Just once, and only once, into the world he came. His parents had no noble rank, No wealth, no land, no fame. Just once, and wonderingly, The shepherds knelt to see the baby, saviour of the world, Upon his mothers's knee. Just once, in grandeur fine, the wise men from afar Discovered where the baby sleepy By following the star. Just once, and far away; But, though the world is torn, Divided, yet each year he comes, each year he is re-born. At home, in church, in school, Each year and evermore, We celebrate his one-time birth, And see the stable door. Unknown. This text will be replaced by the flash music player. Listen to Away in a Manger, a lovely Carol" Something to think about and do today Celebrating Christmas in Other countries Wigilia In Poland: Wigilia comes from the Latin for “keeping watch”. When evening comes on Christmas Eve in Poland, everyone is very hungry and keeping watch. The day has been kept as a fast day, where no one eats anything during the day. Supper has to wait until the first star appears in the night sky. Just as the Wise Men examined the night sky carefully to see their star, so the children look up into the sky, each hoping to be the first to see a star twinkling in the cold night sky. Eventually a star will be spotted and someone will shout, Look! A star! Greetings and good wishes are exchanged and then the special supper can begin. Once supper is over, the Star Man arrives. Star boys dressed in all kinds of fancy costumes often accompany the Star man. The Star man makes sure that the children know their catechism, then he rewards them with small presents. After the Star Boys have sung carols and everyone has enjoyed the fun, they all set off to the Watch Nigh Service in the Church. Star Boys are out and about again on the 6th of January which is the date that marks the visit of the Wise Men. Christmas in Brazil: Brazilians are a mix of different ethnic people, and as a former Portuguese colony, they have many Christmas customs which originate from this heritage. One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word originates from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio is common in northeastern Brazil. Nowadays presépios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes, and stores. Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing due to the summer heat. He brings gifts to children during the night of Christmas Eve. The children set out their shoes for Papai Noel before they go to bed. On Christmas morning the children find their shoes full of small gifts, and they also look for gifts that are hidden around the house. A huge Christmas dinner includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetables and fruit dishes. Devout Catholics often attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. The mass has this name because the rooster announces the coming day and the Missa do Galo finishes at 1 AM on Christmas morning! On December 25th, Catholics go to church, but the masses are mostly late afternoon, because people enjoy sleeping late after the dinner called Ceia de Natal or going to the beach. Decorations include fresh flowers picked from the garden. Fireworks go off in the skies over the cites and huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights can be seen against the night skies in major cities such as Brasilia, San Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil there is folk dancing and singing and the festivities go on until January 6th, which the Brazilians refer to as Three Kings Day. January 6th is supposed to be the day when three wise men visited Jesus to bring him gifts. Christmas in France On Christmas Eve, children leave their shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts from Pere Noel. In the morning they also find that sweets, fruit, nuts and small toys have been hung on the tree. In cathedral squares, the story of Christ's birth is re-enacted by both players and puppets. Nearly every French home at Christmastime displays a Nativity scene or crèche, which serves as the focus for the Christmas celebration. The crèche is often peopled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints." In addition to the usual Holy Family, shepherds, and Magi, the craftsmen also produce figures in the form of local dignitaries and characters. The craftsmanship involved in creating the gaily colored santons is quite astounding and the molds have been passed from generation to generation since the seventeenth century. Throughout December the figures are sold at annual Christmas fairs in Marseille and Aix. The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Noel, which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among other food in great abundance is served at the grand feast of the season, which is called le reveillon. Le reveillon is a very late supper held after midnight mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional culinary tradition. In Alsace, goose is the main course, in Burgundy it is turkey with chestnuts, and the Parisians feast upon oysters and pat de foie gras. Le Revellion may consist of poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine. In Southern France, a log is burned in people's homes from Christmas Eve until New Years Day. A long time ago, part of the log was used to make the wedge for the plough as good luck for the coming harvest. The traditional Christmas is a chocolate log. In France families once had a Three Kings Cake with a bean hidden in it. Whoever found the bean in their slice was made King, or Queen, for the day. In France the children go out to look for the Kings, taking gifts of hay for the camels. Another name for this day is Twelfth Day. It is the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which used to be one long holiday. It was the last night of the Feast of Fools before the Lord of Misrule had to give up his crown and become themselves once again. In France it is a time for the whole family to come together at Christmas time to holiday and worship. On the eve of Christmas beautifully lit churches and cathedrals, ring out Christmas carols with the church bells. Once dinner is over and the family has retired to bed, they leave a fire burning and food and drink on the table in case the Virgin Mary calls in. Children leave their shoes or wooden clogs called sabots in the hearth for the Christ Child or Pere Noel to fill. In the north of France, children are given gifts on December 6, which is St. Nicholas' Day, instead of Christmas Day. The adults give each others presents on New Year's Day. French children set out their shoes in hopes that le petit Jesus will fill them during the night with small gifts. Here is a picture of an Gift Tag with a holly window to colour in - right click to download the picture and colour it in using your Paint Programme. Here is a Nativity Word search to try - enjoy and good luck - right click to download the picture and print it out.