December 2021 
Theme: Christmas

Opening Prayer:

Sadlier Religion, Jesus, the Reason for Christmas

Jesus,
As we remember your birth this Christmas,
guide our thoughts towards the reason for this beautiful season of Christmas.
Let us feel joy in your presence. And bask in your light.
Let us always bear in mind the reason why you came into the world.
Amen.

Introduction:

In this season of Christmas joy and giving we can easily get caught up in the beauty, lights, and gifts that surround us.  But sometimes the true meaning of Christmas comes from the littlest, most humble sources.  In a Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown finds beauty in the smallest, seemingly ugliest tree.  When everyone saw a scrawny and ugly tree, Charlie Brown saw the beauty in the tree that only God could see in it’s creation. The same holds true for the Christmas season. 

The Christmas season is about a small, humble baby.  One not born in an extravagant hospital with all the doctors and nurses and technology at the ready.  But a baby born into meager means; born in an animal stable whose first bed was a food trough not a crib.  The Christmas season is about finding the beauty in the simple gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh---gifts fit for a king but brought to a newborn baby; Christmas is about the simple gift of a young boy who could only give a song on a drum.

As we enter the final week of Advent, look for beauty in simple things---a hug of a grandparent, family laughter, and time spent with family. Christmas is about love and kindness and sharing from the heart; not the big gifts wrapped under a brightly lit tree. 

Read: Luke 2: 1-14  

Discuss:

• Why do you think the angel told the shepherds to not be afraid?
• What was the good news that the angels told the shepherds?

Watch:

It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas video clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOofCTbv96s&t=11s

Discuss:

• How do you think Charlie Brown felt when everyone was laughing at him because of the tree he chose for Christmas?
• Charlie Brown asked: “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”, what do you think Christmas is all about?

Activity:

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree of Caring:

As a family, either make your own hearts (three per person in the family) out of paper you have at home or print off the hearts provided (enough so each person in the family has three.) In the next week, when you do something kind for someone in your family or at school/work, cut out a heart and write down your kindness on the heart and hang it on your Christmas Tree.  Hopefully by Christmas day there will be three hearts per person hanging on your Christmas tree

Challenge:

Once you have all your hearts on the tree by Christmas Day, take a picture of your family with your hearts on your Christmas tree and send your completed caring tree picture to Amy Bolle at [email protected]

Super Challenge:

As a family watch the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v70J949oAcU

After watching the video, have each member of your family pick a character to imitate and dance along with on the video. Take a video of your family dancing together and send it to Amy Bolle at [email protected] to be posted on our parish website and Facebook page.

Closing Prayer:

Sadlier Religion, Prayer of Christmas Past, Present, and Future

Gracious God,

We turn to you in wonder and praise as we celebrate Christmas.

Remind us during this sacred season of our collective story. May our roots extend deep into the soil of faith and spread outwards to share the Good News of Christ’s coming.

Focus our attention so that we remain attuned to the sights, sounds, and sensations of the season. May the presence of Christ be at the forefront of our thoughts and actions as we enact each holiday ritual.

Fill us with hope in the continuous birthing of Christ in our world. May we never lose sight of the promise of the Kingdom of peace and compassion that is both present and yet to be.

With gratitude in our hearts, we pray.

Amen.

Questionnaire:

Please make sure you submit your answers so your child/ren can be marked present for this session.