With inspiration from a friend of mine who is celebrating her first advent ever this year and making an advent wreath for her family, the boys and I had a little nature hike today and decided to collect some items to make our own wreath. We love our old Abbey Press candle circle (all the children of the world holding peace, joy, love, hope banners), but I wanted to do something for the season that would get us out to enjoy the majesty of a beautiful day and my favorite time of year.
It started innocently enough -- we were all excited that the crimson fall leaves are still around, the perfect color for a Christmas wreath (they managed to look like orange lillies in the finished masterpiece). Then God reminded me how he will keep me young with my energetic boys ALWAYS kicking it up a notch... they were, no-joke, 30 feet up a giant sycamore, risking limb and mom's sanity, dangling off branches to pull down strands of the glorious red-berry vines you see featured here.
All this is from the woods, except of course the candles.
Here's a prayer to kick off the lighting of the advent candles -- a beautiful tradition worth incorporating, to remember the Light of the World. -- Meg
A Rite for the Beginning of Advent at Home
The first day the wreath is in the home, the leader may say:
As our nights grow longer and our days grow short,
we look on these earthly signs--light and green branches--
and remember God's promise to our world:
Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.
Listen to the words of Isaiah the prophet:
The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those who lived in a land as dark as death
a light has dawned.
You have increased their joy
and given them gladness;
They rejoice in your presence
as those who rejoice at harvest,
as warriors exult when dividing spoil. Is. 9:1-2
Then as the first candle is lit, all pray:
O God,
rejoicing,
we remember the promise of your Son.
As the light from this candle,
may the bless of Christ come upon us,
brightening our way
and guiding us by his truth.
May Christ our Savior bring life
into the darkness of our world,
and to us, as we wait for his coming.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
6 comments:
Your wreath is far more attractive than mine. Well done. What a coincidence...I just printed off that prayer that you included in this post. I forgot to use it today to kick off our first ever Advent, but will use it tomorrow.
way to go with a new wreath, meg! :) i love how it looks. what a neat way to involve the boys in putting it together.
Love this!
Thanks for the kind words. Does it ever seem like the things we make the least fuss over turn out best? This was a no-plan, no-worry, let's-go-have-some-time-together-cuz-it's-so-warm-outside project. I just don't think you can go wrong anyhow with greens and leaves all piled up on a plate! Elaina, I'm guessing yours is equally awesome, send a picture, I'm so proud of you for your first advent and your first wreath!
Meg, this is beautiful. We make our own wreath too. When we lived in the country, it was easier to come up with all the greenery around our home. Now, we trim some from the bushes and trees and fill in with little bundles of extras ( 50 cents apiece) put together by the kids of the owner of the Christmas tree lot near our house. I always think of Charlie Brown's Christmas. The real tree, so simple. That's what the season is all about to me. Julia helped me this year, as she usually does. Every year it's a little different, and now that I wet that Oasis FIRST, well, it's a whole lot easier ... :) you go, girl!
great advice on the oasis, Lane... I thought the leaves would dry nicely but they are looking a bit pickled. The berries are staying red tho, that's good. The boys still like it, no matter what, because don't forget, the REAL meaning of an advent wreath is... FIRE! (We now have the boys making up their own daily prayer so at least the focus on the wreath is a little less pyro-related :) Send pics guys, I'll post them! Cheers!
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