By Diana Dworin
‘pause’ W
Advent: A gift of waiting
aiting isn’t easy —espe- cially for families in the days leading up to Christmas. Parents want to wrap up their holiday shop- ping. Children want to open their gifts. All around us, from the decorations we see in stores to the carols we hear on the radio, our culture seems to press the fast- forward button to rush us toward Dec. 25. But as people of faith, we’re called to wait to cel-
ebrate Jesus’ birth. During Advent, the four-week season of the church that proceeds Christmas, we’re reminded to pause and prepare—and to rejoice and watch—as we look toward the coming of the Christ child. It’s not easy to put the brakes on Christmas and prac-
tice the patience of Advent. “Advent is about saying ‘yes’ to slowing down and pointing our hearts back to the story of Jesus,” said Tony Biaggne, creative direc- tor of the Advent Conspiracy (
www.adventconspiracy. org), a multidenominational online movement that pushes back against the holiday rush and consumerism. “It tells us that we need this time of waiting so we can soak in the story of the beautiful scandal of the birth of our savior.” Celebrating Advent rather than jumping ahead toward Christmas is easier when parents weave special activi- ties and family traditions into the season, said Biaggne, a father of two young boys. Parents help focus their fam- ily’s attention on the themes of the season when they: • Put a fresh spin on waiting. Too often in our culture, waiting is equated with wasting, and delaying gratifica- tion is frowned upon. Highlight with your children the gifts that come when we wait: babies arrive after months of pregnancy, cake rises from batter after spending time in the oven, and fruit ripens on trees after spending weeks on a branch. • Prepare a waiting place. Give your children a box to decorate as a manger. Each day in Advent, let them collect straw, grass or other soft materials to prepare the manger for the Christ child. When Christmas comes,
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Pass the faith
place a doll in the box to represent Jesus’ arrival in the world. • Bring in the light. Advent comes at the darkest time of the year when the length of daylight is shortest and the nights are longest. Make a tradition of lighting a candle for each week of Advent to illustrate the growing light that comes with Jesus’ birth. Gather the family for a meal, such as breakfast, and say a prayer or sing a song together as you light the wicks. • Count the days. Advent calendars are a traditional way to count down to Christmas. Although you can find them at stores, consider making one as a fam-
ily project during the Thanksgiving weekend before Advent. Cut a piece of cardboard into a house shape and draw on windows to represent each day leading up to Christmas. Write a short prayer within each window, and glue on a paper “shutter” to cover it up. With each passing day, have the children lift one shutter at a time to reveal the day’s message.
DESIGN PICS
Now what? Communing children
Q: I’m not sure what to do with my children when it’s time for communion. It seems like some kids participate and others just get a blessing. How do I know if my family is doing the right thing? A: Across the ELCA, there isn’t a standard practice that all churches follow when it comes to children and communion. Although first communion classes are the norm at many congregations, others let parents decide when their children commune. Ask your pas- tor about your congregation’s practice of commun- ing children—but also know that the ELCA allows baptized babies held in their parents’ arms to receive the sacrament (“The Use of the Means of Grace”; ELCA, 1997). Share your opinion or story at
www.thelutheran. org. Send questions to diana@passthefaith. org.
Lutheran mom
Dworin, 41, is a mother of three and a former parenting magazine editor.
December 2011 41
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