December 13, 2022, Class Update: Advent Midpoint and Pageant

Advent Greetings Everyone!

When we met this past Tuesday, we spent a little bit of time in class focusing on topics of Advent and Christmas, including special feasts that happen in December, like the joyful meaning of Gaudete Sunday (the Third Sunday of Advent), the Feast of La Virgen de Guadalupe, and the Feast of St. Lucy/Lucia.

Then we went to the annual Religious Education Pageant.

We meet once more, on December 20, before we go on break.

The weekly activity is listening to an Advent Inspiration from Relevant Radio.

These are 1-minute soundbites with a variety of topics about Advent and Christmas Seasons.

Go to this link and play any of the soundbites.

Then, in the form at this link, submit a reflection of at least 1 sentence about what stood out to you.

This activity is due by class time on December 20.

If you listen to all the soundbites, you can get extra credit.  If you choose this option, note that in your submission and then, in your reflection, share which one you liked the most and why.

Other optional enhanced extra credit opportunities are listed below.

Looking ahead, our plan for the December 20 class is to continue looking ahead through Advent toward Christmas Season, with a focus on Messianic prophecies.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with questions, etc.

We remain connected as One Church:
All my relations.

We rejoice that we are getting closer to the celebration of Christ's Birth, born to enter into our hearts and transform us.

God's blessings,
Paul

We rejoice because we're now past the midpoint of Advent, and the wreath is getting even brighter with the rose colored candle now illuminated.

Here is an image of La Virgen de Guadalupe at former St. Cornelius Parish in Chicago, where I was baptized.  Her image was miraculously painted on the tilma of San Juan Diego


P.S. The song in our opening prayer time was "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" performed in this video by the Christian musical group Casting Crowns.


Enhanced Extra Credit Opportunities:

Attend Evening Prayer at Ascension, held next on Wednesday, December 21, at 6:30 PM, about 30 minutes long.

Watch the archived video of the December monthly Taize prayer at Ascension.

Watch the livestream of Advent Vespers at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., at 3 PM CST on Sunday, December 18.

A link to view is here, including a link to a program booklet.  It lasts about 30 minutes.  You may also view archived videos after it happens on the Shrine's YouTube channel--it starts after about 10-15 minutes in the video.

If you select one of these options, please go to this link to submit a reflection of at least 1 sentence about what stood out to you.

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