Preparation for Advent

[Zoie]

At our Liturgy Committee meeting yesterday, it was decided to use the theme “Advent Journey” for Advent. It was suggested we make banners, two for each week, to be put up sequentially each of the four weeks of advent, hopefully reinforcing the Gospel message… The first banner would have an appropriate word or words and the second would have an illustration depicting the word. The words suggested were: Stop (Be Still) - Triumph of Jerusalem kingsthip of Christ; Prepare (John the Baptist); Look (reflect within) (repentance); and Listen (Immaculate Conception). I think there must be a better word(s) to reflect and emphasize our Advent Journey. I’m having a brain freeze so I’m hoping someone can help me with better suggestions! Thanks

 

[Gertabelle]

At our Liturgy Committee meeting yesterday, it was decided to use the theme “Advent Journey” for Advent. It was suggested we make banners, two for each week, to be put up sequentially each of the four weeks of advent, hopefully reinforcing the Gospel message… The first banner would have an appropriate word or words and the second would have an illustration depicting the word. The words suggested were: Stop (Be Still) - Triumph of Jerusalem kingsthip of Christ; Prepare (John the Baptist); Look (reflect within) (repentance); and Listen (Immaculate Conception). I think there must be a better word(s) to reflect and emphasize our Advent Journey. I’m having a brain freeze so I’m hoping someone can help me with better suggestions! Thanks

Instead of “stop”, why not just “Be still” – or better yet, just “be”?

Prepare is all right, but it seems a little too general to me. Still, I can’t think of anything better at the moment.

I prefer “repent” to “look.” Hmmm… Maybe “seek” or “reflect”?

I love “listen.”

Other words that come to mind for Advent are “now” and “wait” and “ready” – but I don’t really care for any of them on a banner.

Thanks for asking!

Gertie

 

[benedictgal]

I am of the “less is more” school. Rather than have banners, use what the season already conveys, the colors and the tone. Use the advent wreath, only, don’t buy a teeny tiny Charlie Brown-esque one. At the Cathedral, we would have a huge one. At my old parish in Austin, we would put up purple and rose banners (with no writings on them). That made a stronger statement than anything else.

Banners (with writing and artwork) also, as I see it, call to mind the bad taste era of the 1970s, early 1980s. Just keep it simple.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Oh no! Not banners. Ugh!!!

Note, I have seen some very good ones, but the overwhelming majority look like an unsupervised kindergarten kid had at it. If you see felt and white glue, run!

 

[JMJ_coder]

Is this only for the Mass, or for the parish life in general?

 

[mlpt77]

As a part of any activity such as this, it is always beneficial to create a symbol of the good works for the family to see. In this case, Christmas ornaments can be used to represent each act of charity and hung on the tree at each day’s end or whenever the tree is decorated. Craft stores such as Michael’s carry clear glass ornaments that can be decorated or simply written on with colorful permanent markers indicating the act of charity. Other hand-made ornaments can also be made in any fashion.

For particularly busy parents, the charity works can be written on ribbon and tied in a bow on to candy canes. These make beautiful additions to any tree. At the end of the two weeks, the Christmas tree is sprinkled lights, sparkle and a reminder of the family’s participation in bringing Christ’s love to the World.​

Cheap SEO

 

[Joannm]

I agree with nixing the banners unless they will be displayed in the narthex. I think this gathering area is often not used to its best advantage, especially if there is the room to do something. If you do use banners keep words or symbols off them or make them simple, and stay away from felt, that looks so cheap. I have seen beautiful banners of simply purple or perhaps with a very simple symbol. In one parish I worked at we put up banners around the nave with the the beginning words of the O Antiphons beginning the 17th of December.

Instead of using “visuals” why not use the parish bulletin for brief articles on your theme, or even choose songs that would focus the people. There are so many beautiful Advent hymns that many parishes just ignore.

 

[johnnykins]

At our Liturgy Committee meeting yesterday, it was decided to use the theme “Advent Journey” for Advent. It was suggested we make banners, two for each week, to be put up sequentially each of the four weeks of advent, hopefully reinforcing the Gospel message… The first banner would have an appropriate word or words and the second would have an illustration depicting the word. The words suggested were: Stop (Be Still) - Triumph of Jerusalem kingsthip of Christ; Prepare (John the Baptist); Look (reflect within) (repentance); and Listen (Immaculate Conception). I think there must be a better word(s) to reflect and emphasize our Advent Journey. I’m having a brain freeze so I’m hoping someone can help me with better suggestions! Thanks

This is what is wrong with Liturgy Committees. Rome has already decided on what takes place at Mass - the theme, the readings, the texts, the rubrics. I strongly suggest that this Liturgy Committee apply its energy to making sure there are trained servers, clean linens, clean vestments, candles, sufficient wine and bread, readers, people to collect the offering, people to bring the gifts to the Altar.

Then the priest can offer Mass and give his homily.

If the pastor wants to focus on some special aspect of Advent - he can do so in his homily, or outside the liturgy in education sessions, planned activities, columns in the bulletin, etc. If this Committee has some role in planning extra-liturgical activities, fine. But, the Mass and the form of its celebration and themes are already taken by more qualified individuals - ROME.

 

[johnnykins]

As a part of any activity such as this, it is always beneficial to create a symbol of the good works for the family to see. In this case, Christmas ornaments can be used to represent each act of charity and hung on the tree at each day’s end or whenever the tree is decorated. Craft stores such as Michael’s carry clear glass ornaments that can be decorated or simply written on with colorful permanent markers indicating the act of charity. Other hand-made ornaments can also be made in any fashion.

For particularly busy parents, the charity works can be written on ribbon and tied in a bow on to candy canes. These make beautiful additions to any tree. At the end of the two weeks, the Christmas tree is sprinkled lights, sparkle and a reminder of the family’s participation in bringing Christ’s love to the World.​

Cheap SEO

Perhaps Advent should be Advent and Christmas should be Christmas, and we not - in Church at least - conflate the two. I realize the general society treats the pre-Christmas period as the “Christmas season.” Unfortunately, the Church begins the Christmas Season with Christmas day. Can’t we keep the trees and Mangers and such out of our Churches until Christmas Day, at least? Can’t we, at least, try to make Advent it’s own special season at least in our Churches? Since Advent is a penitential season, lighted Christmas Trees sure seem inappropriate at least in Church.