Day 11 Advent Candle: Today you will light the Prophecy Candle and then the Bethlehem Candle. Bible Verses Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (NIV) When I first read today's Bible verses, the first thing that I did was go back to yesterday's passage about Zechariah. I compared their responses to the angel Gabriel and at first I thought, "Now, wait a minute! Mary questioned the angel just like Zechariah did! Why was he in trouble!" LOL But as I took a closer look, I realized that their responses were very different. Zechariah asks, "How can I be sure of this?" Mary asks, "How will this be?" or, "How can this happen?" Zechariah is questioning Gabriels--and God's!--trustworthiness. He's basically asking for some proof that God means what He says! Mary, on the other hand, is simply confused about how she will become a mother because she is a virgin. She doesn't understand what might be required of her or how God will make it happen. But, she is willing to accept whatever the answer might be! Gabriel reassures her with an explanation and tells her that God has even given Elizabeth a child. Then, instead of asking for any other qualification, Mary offers herself to God's will as a humble servant. Jesse Tree Verse: Deuteronomy 5:1-22Symbol: The tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. Article/Devotion The 12 Voices of Christmas--Mary Daily Guidepost-Mary's Obedience Beating the Christmas Cinderella Syndrome by Sharon Betters. We should strive to be a Mary this Christmas, not a Martha! (Oh, that has a double meaning, doesn't it? HAHA!) Dinnertime (or anytime!) Discussion In the passage above, Mary answers the angel by saying that she accepts God's will and that she will continue to be His "bondslave". In other Bible translations, it uses another term I really like: "handmaid". In other words, Mary is a servant to the Lord. Talk about what a servant is and does. What is the attitude of a servant and what are some ways that we can act as God's servants? Word to Know Salutation: 1a. A polite expression of greeting or goodwill. b. salutations Greetings indicating respect and affection; regards. 2. A gesture of greeting, such as a bow or kiss. 3. A word or phrase of greeting used to begin a letter or message. (American Heritage Dictionary) Annunciation: The announcement made to the Virgin Mary by Archangel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38) that she was to become the Mother of Jesus and her acceptance of the will of God are known as the Annunciation. The act of declaring the Incarnation of the Son of God is celebrated by the feast of March 25 in the Church calendar. It is also, and more precisely called, Annunciation of the Lord. (The Catholic Encyclopedia) Book Suggestion There are quite a few books which tell the story of the first Christmas through the perspective of Jesus' mother, Mary. Here are three which we have enjoyed (or heard good reviews of): Mary, Did You Know?: The Story of God's Great Plan by Mark Lowry (writer of the song "Mary, Did You Know?"!) Unto Us is Born by Herbert Brokering. This book contains 37 readings (25 days up to Christmas and the 12 days of Epiphany) in the form of dialogues by the young mother of Jesus. Mary's First Christmas by Walter Wangerin. I love this picture book because of the realistic pictures (To me, at least, Mary LOOKS like a young Middle Eastern woman would...as opposed to the European way she is sometimes portrayed!) and because of how it is told. Mary explains to her son, 5-year old Jesus, what the times surrounding his birth were like from her point of view. A neat book! Art The painting up above on this page is by Fra Filippo Lippi (love that name!) from the 15th century. It is simply called "The Annunciation". Filippo Lippi was brought up in a monastery where he learned to paint, but he renounced his vows later and married. He was an artist who influence later Renaissance painters like Botticelli and da Vinci. His later works have a Gothic flavor that include subjects surrounded by flowing clothing or draperies and in complex poses or movements. Lippi and the former nun he married had a son, named Filippo Lippi (don't get confused!) who also became a great painter and a pupil of Botticelli. World's Great Madonnas A collection of some of the most beautiful renditions of Mary. The Mary Page at University of Dayton This "Marianist" Catholic college has put together a comprehensive site on the life of Mary. Denominational, of course, but very insteresting! Christmas Carol or Hymn Mary, Did You Know? A short "Story Behind the Song" article by Christianity Today. Holiday Tradition & History Holly Yesterday we learned about the mysterious plant, mistletoe. Today, we're going to share some of the interesting Christian legends surrounding another famous Christmas plant: holly! Although it also has its fame based in pagan tradition, early Roman converts to Christianity were eager to use this unique plant for the symbolism that could represent Christ. Because they could not defy the former pagan Roman government outright, Christians were already in the habit of putting holly around their homes and on their doors during the winter Saturnalia festival. So after Christianity was accepted, they absorbed and recreated the holly tradition, giving it new meanings and wonderful stories to go along with its new identity. As a symbol of Jesus and his life, the prickly leaves of the holly plant represented the thorn of crowns that Jesus wore at the crucifixion. The red berries were a reminder of the blood shed on the cross for all of our sins. As churches and missionaries spread this symbolism, even more legends were formed about the Christmas plant! Here are a few for you to enjoy! Germans began to call the holly plant "Christdorn". Their legend explained that holly branches were woven into Jesus' crown of thorns that was placed on his head. As the thorns and prickly holly leaves pierced Christ's head, the holly plant's formerly white berries were changed red by his powerful blood! Soon, the berries of all holly plants became red. A second holly legend says that when the man charged with cutting down a tree to form the cross for Christ to die upon went into the woods, none of the trees would allow themselves to be cut! The man's axe would no sooner hit the trunk of a tree than the tree would either resist a mark altogether or it would splinter into thousands of pieces so that it could not be used in the death of our Savior. Finally, though, the man came to a holly tree which understood the great sacrifice that Jesus needed to pay for the world. It yielded to the man's axe and was used to make Christ's cross. The holly tree was given a place of honor and called the "chosen tree". It became associated even more with the passion of Christ. Finally, here is another old holly tale that explains where the plant's bright red berries come from. The story goes that an orphan boy who was adopted by a shepherd was there in the fields when the angels of the Lord came to announce Jesus' birth. The orphan traveled with the shepherds to the stable. When he arrived, the boy was in awe of baby Jesus but felt embarrassed because all those around him were presenting the baby with gifts. He had none! So, he quickly decided to make a crown for the baby king and chose some holly branches to do just that. When the orphan entered the stable and placed the crown on Jesus' head, the baby touched it and it began to sparkle! The orphan boy was so happy to see that it pleased Jesus that he began to cry and his tears fell on the berries, turning them from white to red! Some people say that this legend is the real story behind the song, "The Little Drummer Boy". While many of the Christmas decorations and symbols remind us of when Christ came to earth as a baby, holly stands out as one of the few to help us remember why he truly came and how he left: as the Savior of mankind! 'Round the World at Christmas Christmas Around the World Scavenger Hunts Now that we're approaching the halfway mark through the season of Advent, take some time to test your knowledge of worldwide Christmas traditions with these internet scavenger hunts! Lots of good "Christmas Around the World" links, too. Still want to keep learning about more countries? Take some time to read about the Christmas holiday as it is celebrated in Costa Rica! (Information courtesy of www.twighlightbridge.com ) As in other parts of the world, Christmas in Costa Rica is a time for celebration and parties, sharing and reflecting. The month of December is electric with thoughts of the season, and busy with preparations for festivities, family get togethers and vacations. In late November decorations begin to appear in downtown shops, and by the second week of December everybody has lights strung, cypress wreaths hung and Christmas trees decorated. And you can be sure that here, too, stockings are carefully in place awaiting the arrival of the Baby Jesus. The traditional Christmas tree in Costa Rica is a big evergreen branch, a small cypress tree, or dried coffee branches. The "tree" is decorated with white paint and brightly colored strips of paper. Lights and small colored balls, a variety of small figures and lace are also used to adorn the greenery. A gold star is placed on top as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem. A very popular Latin American tradition--the portal--is a nativity scene constructed of mosses and grass, colored sawdust, cypress twigs, black paper, silver glitter and figurines representing the birth of Jesus in the manger. Along with the traditional figures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, shepards, the three wise men and the ox and mule, Costa Ricans commonly add extra embellishments like dolls, little farm animals, tiny toys, fruits and berries, and lights. While Costa Rican families spend a great deal of time arranging their portales just right, tradition says that families who don't own a home must use a portal that has been received as a gift--then the holy family will help them get a house of their own. The portal is often placed under the tree (along with the presents) but may sit on a table, platform or on the floor in a corner of the living room. Wherever it is, it occupies a position of honor and is a point of pride in the home. The people put a lot of effort into making each year's portal better than the last and the displays frequently outgrow the space under the tree or on the table and begin to monopolize a large part of the living room. The figure of Baby Jesus is placed in the portal at midnight on December twenty-fourth. That's also when the adults open their gifts. The children are told that the Baby Jesus brings their gifts while they are sleeping. Nowadays, Saint Nicholas has also become an important part of the custom and his rotund presence is everywhere. Posadas take place during the nine days before Christmas. Originating in Spain and Mexico, the posada consists of a group of neighbors getting together at a different neighbor's house each day to act out the pilgrimage of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. This is accompanied by singing and praying, snacks of the season, and lots of tamales. The Misa de Gallo, Christmas Mass, takes place at midnight on December twenty-fifth. That is the night that many families enjoy their traditional Christmas dinner. Throughout the month of December there are parades, carnivals, parties, and religious processions in all corners of the country. The tope has been celebrated in Costa Rica since colonial times. Originally the activity when bulls were cut out of the herd to be used in the bull fights, for the past forty years it has been a formal parade of horses down the main streets of San José. Riders from across the country come to the city to show off their best mounts and formal duds. Today's tope includes much more than stately horses and their proud riders. Other folkloric elements have been introduced such as horse-drawn carriages and the famous hand-painted oxcarts. The tope is complemented with a grand parade complete with floats, marching bands, dancing girls and clowns. This also runs down the main streets of San José, turning the city into a sea of partying humans. For many Costa Ricans this parade is the party event of the year. Bullfights are synonymous with the season's festivities in Costa Rica. Popular since the colonization, they take place in the Zapote Arena every night during the festive season. The bulls are never harmed in the Tico version of the bullfights. The most popular phase of the Tico bullfight is the run when dozens of young men race into the ring en masse with the intention of frightening the bull and provoking it to attack. Although the bull is never harmed, occasionally one of the men is gored. The whole thing is a performance designed to release adrenaline, relieving the frustrations of the past year. Thanks to the Costa Rican government every worker in the country has extra money in December to spend on gifts. The aguinaldo is a government declared Christmas bonus, given to every employee in the country by his or her employer. It is equivalent to a full month's pay. Costa Rica was a Latin American pioneer in the establishment of this mandatory bonus. There is also a special drawing worth several million colones held during December by the National Lottery Commission. As Christmas Day approaches, much of the electricity in the air can be attributed to this Lotería Navideña. Traditional seasonal foods include the tamal (corn flour dough stuffed with potatoes, vegetables and pork or chicken, then boiled in plantain leaves) (here is a recipe for Costa Rican tamales); pupusa (tortilla with cheese, corn and whatever); vigoron (cabbage, tomato, yucca and fried pork rind, served on a plantain leaf); and grilled pork, chicken and sausage. Many Costa Ricans have adopted the foreign custom of eating turkey and ham, as long as they are accompanied by the traditional Costa Rican tamal. Rompope is also in great supply. Known by North Americans as eggnog, it is generously fortified with dark rum or brandy. The closing ceremony to the Christmas season isn't until January sixth (traditionally the date the three wise men arrived to worship Jesus) when neighbors get together for a special prayer for the Baby Jesus. Family and friends pray the rosary and sing Christmas carols. Then food is offered and the portal disassembled and put away until next year. Coloring Pages, Cooking and Crafts Holy Family Coloring Page Cutesy page with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Manger Scene Coloring Page Very cute (reminds me of Precious Moments). Printable Nativity 1 Billy Bear 4 Kids has some nice, simple Christmas crafts and printables. Printable Nativity 2--Finger Puppets All you need is a shoe box and these cute printable figures/templates! Baby Jesus Haystack Cookies These are a simple cookie that can be used to represent the manger. 1 package chocolate chips 1/2 cup peanut butter 4 cups chow mein noodles mini marshmallows Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together for 1 min in microwave, stir and microwave for additional 1 ½ min until melted. Add chow mein noodles and toss together gently with 2 forks until well blended. Drop onto waxed paper. Add a marshmallow to represent baby Jesus. Allow chocolate to cool and harden before eating. Baby Jesus Envelope Manger Scroll down for this cute craft. The template is only available to members, but it's easy to figure out from the picture and very cute! Christmas Fun! Silly Snowglobe "Shake" this virtual snowglobe and let the laughter begin! Home Holiday Preparations Today's Tips: Ladies, please tell me that you've been delegating the household work this season? Nooooo???? Be sure to give little chores to the kids like organizing gloves and scarves, putting away the boxes for Christmas decorations (and helping decorate if they can!), and keeping your front porch swept. Designate a kitchen clean-up crew to help you after all that holiday baking! And don't forget to give your hubby a "honey-do" list. He may not be able to read your mind yet (I know, it's only been 20 years...hehe) and he'll appreciate knowing that you need him to stay sane! Weatherproofing, keeping the yard looking spiffy, building or fixing...something, anything!!...and other helpful chores will make the next few weeks go much more smoothly. Movie Time A Charlie Brown Christmas Home | Contact teachingmom 3.0    ©2003-2007 teachingmom.com All rights reserved. *Copies for personal home use permitted, however no part of the TeachingMOM Advent Calendar may be reproduced on the web or sold in any format. 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