Hello Families,
Joseph and Mary are our models for family life and for service of God. Even when the circumstances seemed unclear, Joseph trusted God. Healthy family life is built upon trust, trust in God and trust of one another. Spend some time talking as a family about the importance of trust in your family life, including the ways in which the children trust the adults in the family as well as the ways in which the adults trust the children. Then read today’s Gospel. Talk about Joseph’s trust of God and reflect together on how your family trusts in God. Pray together that your family life will be built on trust, as was the family life of Joseph and Mary. Pray and sing together an Advent song, such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
Family Fun – Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses
In today’s Gospel, Joseph takes Mary into his home. Take some time today to make a gingerbread home. Using graham crackers, vanilla frosting, and candy, build and decorate a family gingerbread house. The frosting acts as glue. Put a thin layer of frosting on the base (i.e., plate, piece of cardboard, etc.) for the house to stick. Need some architectural help? Use a small milk carton to hold up the graham crackers. Use frosting to stick the graham crackers to the sides of the carton. Decorate with candy, using a small dab of frosting to hold the candy in place. Consider dying the frosting with food coloring if you want to add some more decorative touches.
Liturgy Link – Jesus took flesh in Mary’s womb. What action do we do during the
Creed to give honor to this?
Family Challenge – Pick a saint associated with Christmas (St. Nicholas, St. Joseph, and Mary St. Francis of Assisi, etc.). Read their story and pick a way to emulate their good deeds and virtues throughout the Christmas season.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!
Partners in Faith,
Phyllis Chudzinski