Greetings! Advent for 2010 begins with the vigil Mass on Saturday, November 27. It is the First Sunday of Advent. Now is the time to get out the Advent wreath at home or for the classroom. The custom is to light one candle for the First Sunday of Advent and add an additional candle for each successive Sunday. There are prayers to accompany the lighting of the candle(s). Prayers for the Advent Wreath ceremony may be found in local Catholic shops, on-line or here in this blog under the post for Nov. 21, 2009.
There are four Sundays in Advent, and this year we have four full weeks of Advent to prepare for Christmas. The readings for the Liturgical Year are taken from year A in the three year cycle. It is through the daily readings of Scripture that the Church assists us in entering more fully into the Spirit of Advent.
If you are interested in making and baking an Advent wreath with your children/students, you will find a recipe with instructions on my Nov. 20, 2009 post from last year. Please check this blog regularly as I will be updating it throughout Advent with new recipes and activities for the home and classroom.