Each year there is a custom that takes place in the first week of Advent. I call it the greening of the church. It includes, among other things the decorating of the church with greens, ribbons, banners, and of course placing a Christmas tree in an obvious spot. Download 1-12 Mon beau sapin
This year the activity will take place on Saturday morning, 12/6/08 beginning at 10:30. In connection with that day's activity there will also be a rehearsal for the children Christmas service. The congregation will have its service for the children on 12/21/08 beginning at 9:00 A.M. The service will bring together both the students of the Sunday school and the little ones of the pre-school.
This coming Sunday, the second Sunday in Advent will be built around the Epistle reading for the day: 2 Peter 3: 8-14. The Sermon theme will guide our devotion with the thought: The Lord will Come as a Thief. Psalm 85 will be sung antiphonally and the hymn selections from Christian Worship include: 11,16,14,and 275 s.1.
As for the Kogler household, allow this personal note: The Saturday after Thanksgiving was the day set aside for getting ready for the Advent Season in our home. We gather with our children, as many as can make it, and go to the north woods to cut our annual Christmas tree.
This year you see the one pictured here. Once Pastor gets the tree in its stand and positioned in the great room of the Kogler home, grandchildren are gathered together to help with the decorating of the tree with the traditional blown glass German ornaments. Under the supervision of grandma, each child places the various shapes and sizes on the tree. Usually there is an evening meal connected with the activity. The last thing for the day is to position the nativity scene under the tree with the approach of the Oriental Magi depicted by the figurines set at some distance away. As the various Grandchildren visit our home up to Christmas two things take place: the Magi draw closer to the manger scene, and the objects on the Advent calendar are placed on the appropriate day of the month.
You may have seasonally specific customs in your family as well, if so, we'd like to hear of them. God bless...
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