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mrsgranola
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| Posted: Nov 12 2006 at 5:28pm | IP Logged
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I'm sorry I've been a stranger around here lately... this sorry dial-up has me in the dumps!
Anyway, I'm in the plotting stages of a parish, family-friendly Advent/Christmas party. We have no parties to go to. [None, zilch, nada... dh's work has a get-drunk and dance kind of adult party that we've never gone to but that's the only one we're invited to.] And I hate that our parish doesn't have a "Sunday school" Christmas party anymore. So I'm going to do one! I have such fond memories of those church parties from when I was little. Santa always came and handed out oranges and candy canes.
I need ideas! Here's my theme so far:
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel: a parish family Advent party"
I hope that Santa will pay us a visit and we'll ask everyone to bring canned goods for our church food pantry for the needy for admission fee. 
I need game ideas for young and old. I'm thinking everyone can bring heavy appetizers, etc. Maybe a D.J. for dancing? ( I think we have someone in the parish who could do this.)
I'd like to decorate with Advent colors and do maybe some ethnic Advent and Christmas decorations, too..
I also would like to do a craft day for making homemade gifts, cookies, or ornaments. I might have to just do that at home this year with a couple other families... we'll see...
JoAnna
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Mom to Jacob, Grace, Mary, Lucas, Emma, Carrie and Gianna
Parente Adventures
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Nov 12 2006 at 5:45pm | IP Logged
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We have done an Advent seminar a few times at our parish. We had talks for the parents on things like Advent traditions, spiritually preparing yourself for Christmas and how to avoid the commercialism of Christmas from taking over.
Meanwhile we had volunteers do activities with the children, split up by ages. We had them make simple Advent crafts: calenders, candles, paper chains to count down for the youngers, Jesse tree, etc.
After this time we had the families come together for a family project of making an Advent banner. We had a group story time and St Nicholas did make an appearance.
I have also been to a St Nicholas party that a local Catholic high school puts on every year. They have craft stations, the homeschoolers put on a short play, they have other little games and treats.
Good for you for taking the initiative! I am sure God will richly reward your work.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Erin
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| Posted: Nov 13 2006 at 12:10am | IP Logged
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mrsgranola wrote:
| We have no parties to go to. [None, zilch, nada... |
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Joanna
Just a little of topic, do you have any friends nearby you who you could invite over? Start a tradition and you start this year and you could take in turns hosting.
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Erin
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St. Ann
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Molly has some great ideas.
My first thought was singing Christmas and Advent carols together. That really creates a great atmosphere. Maybe there is a great storyteller among your ranks who could tell a Christmas story...Dickens' A Christmas Carol, O'Henry Gift of the Magi...
Let us know how things develop.
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Michaela
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| Posted: Dec 03 2006 at 4:04pm | IP Logged
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We had an Advent activity today. There were only two tables. Last year, we had about 10.
The children made advent wreaths using a wooden base with candle holes pre-drilled. They tied live evergreen branches to the base. The other table had a sheet of paper to cut Jesse Tree ornaments. That's it this year.
(I'm always asking to help somewhere, but no one takes me up on it.)
We will have a Christmas party on the 16th. It's a first so I have no idea what to expect except "Santa & Mrs. Claus" will be there.
Were you able to get your event put together, JoAnna?
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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JennGM
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Michaela wrote:
We had an Advent activity today. There were only two tables. Last year, we had about 10.
The children made advent wreaths using a wooden base with candle holes pre-drilled. They tied live evergreen branches to the base. The other table had a sheet of paper to cut Jesse Tree ornaments. That's it this year.
(I'm always asking to help somewhere, but no one takes me up on it.)
We will have a Christmas party on the 16th. It's a first so I have no idea what to expect except "Santa & Mrs. Claus" will be there. |
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Just lost my original response. Ugh.
My son and I just came back from a local Catholic high school that hosts a St. Nicholas Festival every year for the young children. It was a lot of fun...low budget but lots of activities. I'm trying to remember them:
Tickets for all the activities, 4 for a 1.00, 1 ticket for each activity.
Crafts: Make a crown (I think from Oriental Trading Company, small crown with jewels to stick on, elastic band to wrap around head); make a Christmas ornament (from old cards or pictures, already cut out. Pick a background, glue together, hole and ribbon, glitter..ornament made).
Coloring St. Nick Contest
Raffle for different items (we won Playmobil Nativity set)
Food: Decorate a cookie; Decorate a cupcake
Games: Ring toss (around 2 liter painted bottles ); bean bag toss; duck pond; fishing booth; lollipop Christmas tree; St. Teresa Avila castle, root out vices with virtue throwing things; Dig in the sand for objects; basketball free throw
All had a religious theme about them, and candy and/or holycards or paper Christmas ornaments were the prizes.
St. Nicholas came for picture taking time. The little kids sat on his lap...
They sold food, like cookies, brownies and slices of pizza.
Just a few ideas....
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Topic: Family-friendly parish Advent/Christmas..
