Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 05 2005 at 9:14am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

I'm helping my sister run a mini-Advent retreat for the local homeschoolers. The ages will probably be separated from ages 5-7 and 8 and up, with confessions probabably offered for the older children. I think it's a 2-3 hour thing...I might be wrong. But I haven't done things for groups with a time limit. Knowing so many of you have done something like this, like LIttle Flowers, I'd love to hear any ideas you have.

Oh, it will be held AFTER St. Nicholas day, so I can't really incorporate too much of that.

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Posted: Oct 05 2005 at 6:15pm | IP Logged Quote Sarah

I'm thinking.

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Posted: Oct 05 2005 at 10:00pm | IP Logged Quote Marybeth

Jenn,

Last year we had a homeschool morning just on Our Lady of Guadalupe. We had the dc make tilmas from brown garbage bags, read the Tomie de Paola story, made flower roses and made a large mosaic of Our Lady. We still have my ds's coloring page from the morning up in our toyroom/schoolroom. We had a large traveling picture (about 6 ft. tall) which really enthralled the kiddies!
Thoughts for the older group:
Last year I taught my nephew, niece and their neighbor religious ed. at home. We studied the 12 Days of Christmas-the history of the carol, which each day meant and how it passed along our faith to the people of England. They really enjoyed it!
Could you have them write a letter to the Christ Child? How about making an ornament and/or card for the elderly in a nursing home? Xerox the angelus prayer on a piece of paper which they can recite together and decorate to hang in their rooms at home. What about decorating a candle in which they can take home and light with their families on the feast days of Mary? You could give them a mini card with the feast days printed on it.

hmmmm...you have me thinking.

God bless,

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Posted: Oct 06 2005 at 1:43pm | IP Logged Quote Sarah

I read about a white Christ candle that is lit on Christmas. The kids decorate with symbols.

Little ones could somehow make their own nativities.

There's the idea of each child having their own empty manger that they put a piece of straw into for each good deed done.

Something with the Joyful Mysteries-teaching them to the children. I'll keep thinking

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JennGM
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Posted: Nov 07 2005 at 9:59am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

Thanks for the ideas. I'm still formulating what I'm going to do, but I have a firmer idea of what direction. We're going to have "stations" to do little teaching craft...since there are a few things I want to cover. Then after they are done they go on to the next station. I'll have different age levels.

But I'm looking for some materials to send home with the children. The "retreat" is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, so I want to put some focus on that feast with her relationship to Advent.

I have found some great holycards that have Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe from MexGrocer (thanks MacBeth for that site!). But I'm in the quest now for some cards in bulk for St. Lucia and St. Nicholas...and any other Advent cards that would be good. Anyone have some good sources? I'd love St. Lucia to be emphasized as the Swedish patron.

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JennGM
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Posted: Nov 07 2005 at 10:07am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

Oh, one other question. I was going to have each child make their own Advent wreath. Now this wasn't going to be with candles, but something they could keep in their own room that "looks" like a wreath that they can "light" as the weeks go along. I have one idea that I thought looked nice. I'm short on time, talent and money...so any ideas would help!

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Posted: Nov 07 2005 at 11:24am | IP Logged Quote ladybugs

Hi Jenn,

What if you did Elizabeth's Tomie DePaola Advent unit with the kids?

Just a thought.

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Posted: Nov 07 2005 at 12:31pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

ladybugs wrote:
What if you did Elizabeth's Tomie DePaola Advent unit with the kids?

Just a thought.


I had the same thought, but there is so much material there, that it just would be silly to do it in 2-3 hours. Just not possible. I may incorporate his Guadalupe book, but that's about all I can do. Thanks!

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Posted: Nov 07 2005 at 1:27pm | IP Logged Quote ladybugs

Sorry, I didn't notice it was a 2-3 hour thing.

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Posted: Nov 07 2005 at 1:53pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

ladybugs wrote:
Sorry, I didn't notice it was a 2-3 hour thing.


Oh, Maria! No need to apologize! You were being helpful...and believe me, I was trying to make it work. I just love those books and want everyone else to discover them!

You have SOO much on your plate, I really appreciate any time and advice you share! God bless!

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Posted: Dec 02 2005 at 1:57pm | IP Logged Quote MaryM

jenngm67 wrote:
Oh, one other question. I was going to have each child make their own Advent wreath. Now this wasn't going to be with candles, but something they could keep in their own room that "looks" like a wreath that they can "light" as the weeks go along. I have one idea that I thought looked nice. I'm short on time, talent and money...so any ideas would help!


Jenn, did you ever make a decision on the Advent wreath craft? I think this pre-assembled set is a good option, since so much of the work is already done. Also wanted to let you know my 10 year old today just made her own paper wreath that turned out awesome and she came up with the style on her own. Now is when I wish I had a digital camera (can't scan it like I did the ornaments ). Anyway, what she did was cut out a large ring from a sheet of green cardstock. She cut out 4 rectangles of paper - 3 purple, 1 pink. Rolled those up to make hollow tube candles and taped the sides. Then took 4 small pieces of green paper and rolled those to make a very short tube (about 1/2 inch high). She taped those on to the wreath to be the holders for the candles. She then cut two orange flame shapes - slit one from tip to middle and the other from bottom up to middle and slid them together to create a 3-dimensional flame. She can light the cnadles by setting that paper flame in the top of the candle cylinder. Make sense?

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JennGM
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Posted: Dec 02 2005 at 2:02pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

MaryM wrote:
Jenn, did you ever make a decision on the Advent wreath craft? I think this pre-assembled set is a good option, since so much of the work is already done.


Yes, I did go with the one from Oriental Trading Company. It actually came today and I tested one. How did you know?

I'm going to need a lot more glue dots, and I'll need to straighten up the cardboard "frame" as it was all bent up. The candles lean a bit, so I'm trying to think of ways to straighten them up.

MaryM wrote:
Also wanted to let you know my 10 year old today just made her own paper wreath that turned out awesome and she came up with the style on her own. <snip!> Make sense?


Yes...sounds like she's inherited her mother's crafty sense!

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Posted: Dec 12 2005 at 4:10pm | IP Logged Quote JennGM

Thanks for all your advice and prayers. Our little Advent workshop went well today. I had planned three crafts: Advent Wreath, Sculpey Ornament of OLG (thanks MaryM!) and a Christmas Card mobile.

The mobile was cut out of Christmas cards telling the story of Christmas (different scenes of the shepherds, wise men, nativity, angels) with a bell on the bottom to remind them of the First Church Bells (from Catherine Doherty). I got the basic idea from an old book my mother had called Christmas Magic by Margaret Perry. Lots of great craft ideas, especially practical in reusing material. Secular, but GREAT stuff. One of my favorite (and first) craft books.

We also had a folder with additional information to mull over at home. We had prayers, activities, print outs about Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Nicholas, Advent...

There were some flow problems and some older boys wanted to play and not participate, and we were low on help, but other than that it went really well. The best part was talking to the children and seeing them listen so well. They especially loved the stories of OLG. I also sat with a picture and explained some of the significance of the "pictograph" to the Indians...then the reflections in the eyes. Even though many have heard the stories before, it's a great one to retell, and they like hearing it. When I scan our ornaments I'll put a picture to see the finished project in the OLG thread.

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