During the period of Advent we reflect on Advent being a time to prepare ourselves for Christmas. This means preparing our hearts for the true message of Christmas, and sharing that with others. We reflect on Advent being a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming, or birth, of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is an important part of the Christian calendar and means ‘coming’.
The season of Advent includes prayer, worship, anticipation, hope and joy, all of which is reflected on through Collective Worship both in school and in church, and Advent wreaths are used to symbolically commemorate newness, eternal life, and the death of the promised Messiah.
In St Patrick’s School we celebrate through nativity plays, a carol service led by our year 5 pupils and often through a reverse advent calendar, whereby each day a child is chosen to bring a gift in for the foodbank, which is then passed on to Sparkhill Foodbank through our church. This also links in with our Magnificent Seven of kindness and thankfulness, and sharing our gifts with those less fortunate than ourselves.
Loving God, light in me a desire to prepare for your coming,
to stand in the darkness, waiting, eager, and filled
with joy, and, as we await Christmas day by celebrating Advent,
please help us to become patient in waiting.
Please teach us to realise that Jesus is the most precious
Gift You have ever given to the world. May we imitate
Him as a child, and may we grow in wisdom and in grace.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
