Advent Resource for Primary Schools

1. A CLASSROOM RESOURCE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS www.caritas.org.au/advent

2. ADVENT RESOURCE This resource invites participants to journey through the four weeks of Advent. Each week of Advent has been divided into six components: The ritual of lighting a candle on the Advent wreath. The Gospel reading with reflection questions. A Caritas Australia story with reflection points. Actions to take. A group prayer.  There is also additional information in the 'Notes' section of some slides.

3. Religious education curriculum links Caritas Australia’s Advent resource can help students: Become more familiar with the Scripture stories for Advent. Identify important times of the liturgical year. Identify important symbols, signs and rituals of the Catholic Tradition. Demonstrate developing understanding and appreciation of the Church as a community that continues the mission of Jesus. Compose and pray simple prayers. Learn about the Church’s response to injustice through its organisations.

4. The advent wreath The word ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’. When we light the candles on the wreath, it symbolises the coming of light (Jesus) into the world. Candle 1 (violet): represents hope Candle 2 (violet): represents peace Candle 3 (rose): represents joy Candle 4 (violet): represents love The central white candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Christ. This Advent we will learn, act and pray for a more just and fair world – a world full of hope, peace, joy, and love. Make your own Advent wreath.

5. Making the Advent wreath a daily custom Advent wreaths can be used in Church, at school or at home. As the Advent wreath helps us keep our thoughts focused on the coming of Jesus at Christmas, it should be integrated into our daily lives. The class could gather around the wreath at a set time of the day as a selected student lights the relevant candle.

6. Order your card online at www.caritas.org.au/globalgiftsor call us on 1800 024 413 Global gifts Send a message to those you love and give to mothers and babies in need. When you choose a Global Gift this year, your compassionate gifts are bringing hope, peace, love and joy to women and children by funding training programs and supplies that our midwives need to help mothers give birth safely - and provide expert care before and after babies are born. This Christmas share a message of compassion - simply select one of our beautiful Global Gift cards, water, food or sustainable livelihoods. No matter what Global Gift you choose, you’ll help people overcome poverty – and transform their lives. Order your card online at: www.caritas.org.au/globalgiftsor call us on: 1800 024 413 Order your card online at: www.caritas.org.au/globalgiftsor call us on: 1800 024 413

7. Advent is a special time in the church year when we prepare and get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. God, you are our light and our hope. May we share your hope with our family and friends. As we light this candle in your name, we ask you to fill us with your love this Advent. Amen

8. first week of advent Light the first candle of hope. What do you know about Advent? What are some things that you look forward to? How do you prepare for them? Why is Jesus asking us to ‘be alert at all times’? How can we show Jesus we are hopeful?

9. Bayan is 12 years old, living with her family in Jordan. Shegrew up in Syria but the country became too dangerous with all the fighting. Bayan was scared for a long time and she missed out on a lot of school. • Her family became refugees, travelling to live in Jordan. When they left Syria, they took with them hope, for a safer life with an opportunity for Bayan to attend school and get an education. Bayan waits for the program’s private bus to take her to the Caritas Education Program Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia

10. Bayan waits for the program’s private bus to take her to the Caritas Education Program Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia

11. Bayan doing her homework. Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia

12. first week of advent Light the first candle of hope. • Show solidarity by participating in refugee pilgrimage/simulation. • Appreciate the gift of an education and try your best at school. • Organise a solidarity walk. Bayan is reaching her goal. What goals do you have? Bayan has shown patience through many challenges. When have you shown patience? How can Bayan’s story give you hope?

13. first week of advent Light the first candle of hope. Hopeful God, you are always patient and share with us the true meaning of hope for our future. Help us to follow your lead as we patiently wait in this season of Advent. We pray for our brothers and sisters who are hopeful for an opportunity to learn and build a better life. May we always appreciate the gift of education. In your name we pray, Amen

14. Advent has a focus on light, not darkness. Christ will come again as the light of the world. God, you are our light and you fill us with peace. As we light our Advent candles today, guide us to be peacemakers in all that we do. Help us to see your face in our family and friends. Give us kind words of peace for those we love. Amen

15. second week of advent Light the second candle of peace. John the Baptist told people to make way and prepare for the love of God in our lives. Identify a time in your life that you would like to ask God’s forgiveness for. Can you turn your life around today? What would you do? How can you help others to forgive and turn their lives around?

16. Dinia lives in the Philippines where millions of people are not living in peace as they only live on US $1.90 a day. She struggled every day to get food and enough money for her children to go to school. Sadly, her husband died and this made things even harder for Dinia. She heard about a program run by Caritas Australia's partner SPACFI (Socio Pastoral Action Center Foundation Inc.). When Dinia joined, she learned lots of things that have helped to improve her life and live peacefully. Dinia in her rice field in the Philippines. Credit: Richard Wainwright

17. Dinia in her rice field in the Philippines. Credit: Richard Wainwright

18. Dinia making cassava chips at home for sale to her neighbours and community. Credit: Richard Wainwright

19. SECOND week of advent Light the second candle of peace. • Create a to-do list of all the ways you will show peace in the season of Advent. • Commit to ways that you are going to remove distractions from your life as you focus more on Jesus. • Pray for the vulnerable communities around the world. What qualities do you see in Dinia as a leader in her community? How has Dinia brought peace to her community? Reflect: Can this story inspire you to bring peace to others?

20. SECOND week of advent Light the second candle of peace. Peaceful God, you invite us to share in your peace. We seek your guidance to be peacemakers in our schools and communities. We pray that all nations around the world will live in harmony and be blessed with opportunities. We thank you for our brothers and sisters who strive to help others to live peaceful lives. In your name we pray, Amen

21. The third Sunday in Advent is Gaudete Sunday, from Latin meaning ‘rejoice’. God, you are our light and you bring us joy. May we always appreciate what you have given us and may we share it with our communities. As we light our Advent candles today, help us reflect on the joy that Christmas will bring. Amen

22. THIRD week of advent Light the third candle of joy. What response did John the Baptist give to the people when they asked “what must we do?”. What joy could this story bring to vulnerable people and communities? Who do you think John is preparing the people for? Who will bring Good News? John is asking people to have a change of heart. Whose heart could you help to change this week? How would you do this?

23. Marta is 33 and is married with 4 children. Marta felt trapped, food was scarce and money was tight. She could only afford to send two of her four children to school. Marta and her husband were not able to buy enough food, clothes or pay school fees. They had no choice but to borrow money at a high interest rate. This placed pressure on their family and only added to the challenges that they already faced. Marta says that she feels more confident through a positive collaboration with Caritas Australia. Credit: Caritas Australia

24. By participating in a Caritas Australia program, Marta and her husband learnt how to save money. Marta feels more confident and is now providing all four of her children with an education. Marta and her family have a better life, they have enough food for a whole year. They have saved enough money for emergencies. Marta and her family can now experience a more joyful life in Timor-Leste. Marta says that she feels more confident through a positive collaboration with Caritas Australia. Credit: Caritas Australia

25. THIRD week of advent Light the third candle of joy. • Explore ways you can be generous in spirit. • Identify ways you can support vulnerable families (hampers, gifts, tutoring, food). • Share the story of Marta with others. • Pray for the gift and joy of water. Imagine you were faced with the same challenges that Marta and her family faced. How would you feel? What message of joy did you take from Marta’s story? How has Marta inspired you to bring joy to others?

26. Women in Timor-Leste can build peaceful relationships, economic well being and resilience, independence and influence. Credit: Richard Wainwright

27. THIRD week of advent Light the third candle of joy. Joyful God, you bring us joy during the Advent season as we await the celebration of Jesus’ birth. May we share this Good News with our family and friends. May we live joy filled lives as we look towards the celebration of this special time in the church. In your name we pray, Amen

28. Our final days of Advent, are a time when we can reflect on our Advent journey. God, you are our light and you show us unconditional love. Continue to teach us how to share our love with others around the world. As we light our Advent candles today, we pray it leads us closer to your love. Amen

29. FOURTH week of advent Light the fourth candle of love. Why do you think that baby John leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb? Can you remember a time when you have leapt for joy? Decide if a personal visit from a cousin is more special than a phone call? Who will you be visiting for Christmas this year?

30. Rowan is from the Wondunna clan of the Badtjala people, traditional owners of Fraser Island and Harvey Bay in Queensland. He is a ranger and he has cared for and shown love to Australia's traditional lands. Rowan runs projects on the land and supports traditional land owners. His work is important because climate change is making Australia hotter. This means that there are more fire risk days each year and the bush fire season is longer. Australia’s First People are connected to their lands but their lands are located in the hottest areas of the country. Fires harm the land, health and wellbeing of traditional owners. Rowan, General Manager, Aboriginal Carbon Fund. Credit: Kowanyama Land Office

31. In 2010, Rowan became the General Manager of the Caritas Australia-supported Aboriginal Carbon Fund. Through the fund, Rowan wants to create a partnership between traditional landowners and business to reduce the effects of climate change across the country. By using cool burning techniques, he aims to reduce the intensity of wildfires in the hotter months, which produce more carbon and warm the planet. Ultimately, Rowan demonstrates a love and care for our common home. Rowan is helping to strengthen people’s love and connection with the environment. We are reminded to love where we live. Rowan, General Manager, Aboriginal Carbon Fund. Credit: Kowanyama Land Office

32. Credit: Kowanyama Land Office Aboriginal carbon Fund helping to reduce wildfires. Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia

33. FOURTH week of advent Light the fourth candle of love. • Host a Caritas Kitchen event to highlight the importance of hospitality during Advent. • Visit your friend or cousin and offer support and love. • Write a ‘Hearts for Climate’ letter to your local MP. • Show care for your environment: recycle, reuse and reduce. What and who is affected by climate change and a warming planet? How can we care and love our environment? Why should we care and show love for our common home? Would God agree?

34. FOURTH week of advent Light the fourth candle of love. Loving God, you continue to love each of us unconditionally. As we draw nearer to the celebration of Christmas, inspire us to care for all in what we say and do. Help us protect your creation, love and care for our common home and work for the common good of all people. In your name we pray, Amen

35. Making A WREATH Use the symbols that follow on the proceeding slides to create an Advent wreath. Make your own Advent wreath. The seedpods, nuts and cones are used to decorate the wreath and are symbolic of life and resurrection. The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering. Pine and holly signify immortality. The apple represents the nourishing fruitfulness of the Christian life.

36. Candle Christ Candle

37. Evergreen Holly

38. Pine cone Apple

39. Laurel Nuts

40. Seed Pods