Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff on a rotating basis.

From The Coordinator of Religious Education

by Gwen Heithaus

Happy December and welcome to the second week of Advent! May this week bring you and your families great peace. With a new month comes a new opportunity to make the faith come alive in our homes. Families in Faith is a new program here at St. Margaret to help you do just that. Each month ideas for living our faith outside of the walls of our parish will be shared in the bulletin and newsletter. A few times a year, all families will be invited to come together for faith and fellowship! Mark your calendars for the next social, which will be held on January 18 at 7:00pm in the school cafeteria. 

Please consider bringing these ideas into your home this month as we celebrate the seasons of Advent and Christmas!

1. Does your family have an Advent wreath? Where is it placed? Consider reading a short reflection and singing the refrain to a hymn like “O Come O Come Emmanuel” as you eat breakfast or dinner together. My family did this each morning in my house growing up, and it made the season even more special. 
2. How does your family bring light into this, the darkest time of the year? Consider driving around to find lights in your neighborhood and reflect on the light that God brings to our lives. While you are driving, think about completing a scavenger hunt for things such as a Nativity sign or the words “joy” or “hope”. 
3. How are you using your time, talent, and treasures to help someone else this Advent? Consider taking part in Youth Ministry’s effort to adopt a local family, or spend an evening cooking a dinner for a family who might need it. Contact the parish office if you don’t have anyone in mind! As St. Francis of Assisi said, it is in giving that we receive. 
4. Can you do something special to bring Christ into Christmas? Maybe before opening gifts, read Matthew 7: 7-11 together and talk about how Jesus gives us what we need. Before eating together to celebrate Christ’s birthday, read about his birth story in Luke 2: 1-20. Have you ever made Jesus a birthday cake? It is one of my favorite traditions!
5. What place does silence have in your home? You may read that and think “absolutely nowhere!”. However, I challenge you to create a time and space in your home for silence to come in. Spending even just a minute together in silence creates time for reflection centered around Christ. This practice will bring great fruit to our families and to our lives. Don’t be afraid to welcome (or demand) a bit of silence this Advent and Christmas season!

I pray that this Advent season brings you a spirit of peace as we approach the coming of Christ at Christmas. It is never too late to take a step closer to Christ!