ADVENT RECOLLECTION

MINISTRY OF ALTAR SERVERS

Advent-in-a-Box
December 15, 2012
Try this idea to encourage your youth to spend some time focusing on the
themes and texts of the Advent season.

Activity Proper:
Prepare a small gift box with the following items: shepherd nativity figure, watch or
hour glass, baby toy, votive candle, greeting card with image of the nativity, strips
of green and red construction paper (most of these items I just picked up at a dollar
store). Print and cut out the texts below and tape them to the corresponding object
in the gift box. Invite one participant at a time to select an item from the box, read
the text and corresponding question and pass the object around the group, giving
each person a chance to respond. Note: You could do this as one large group (no
more than ten would be good) or divide into smaller groups (with 3-5 people per
group).
WAITING: Read from Lucas 3:15-16: Nananabik noon ang mga tao at nag-isip-isip
ang lahat kung hindi nga kaya si Juan ang Mesiyas. At sumagot si Juan sa pagsasabi
sa kanilang lahat: Nagbibinyag ako sa inyo sa tubig pero dumarating na ang isang
mas makapangyarihan sa akin. Ni hindi ako karapat-dapat magkalag ng tali ng
kanyang mga panyapak. Sa Espiritu Santo at apoy niya kayo bibinyagan.
Advent is a season of waiting waiting once again to celebrate the birth of Jesus
and the way that birth changes the world. Invite each group member to hold
this watch and answer the following question: What are you waiting for this Advent
season (for example, in your personal life, at school, with your family, in the world,
etc.) If you like, pass the watch around again and ask each person: What do you
think God is waiting for?
STORY: Read from Luke 2:8-12: Sa lupain ding iyoy may mga pastol na nasa
silungan na halinhinan sa pagbabantay sa kanilang kawan sa gabi. Biglang
dumating sa kanila ang isang anghel ng Panginoon at nagningning sa paligid nila
ang luwalhati ng Panginoon; gayon na lamang ang takot nila. Ngunit sinabi sa
kanila ng anghel: Huwag kayong matakot, ipinahahayag ko nga sa inyo ang
magandang balita na magdudulot ng malaking kagalakan sa lahat ng bansa. Ngayoy isinilang sa inyo sa bayan ni David ang Tagapagligtas na si Kristong Panginoon.
At ito ang magiging palatandaan ninyo: makikita ninyo ang isang sanggol na nababalot ng lampin at nakahiga sa sabsaban.
Consider the nativity story. Pass around this greeting card to each person and have
them answer: Which character from the story do you most connect with, relate to,
or see yourself as at this point in your life? The humble, smelly, outcast shepherds?
The expectant (and potentially disgraced)mom? The worried, confused dad? The
wandering magi bearing gifts? The angels bringing good news? The animals

watching from the background?

PRAYER: Read from Colosas 3: Kaya magbihis kayo bilang mga banal at
minamahal na hinirang ng Diyos: isuot ninyo ang habag, kabutihang-loob,
kababaang-loob, kabaitan at malawak na pang-unawa.
Pagtiisan ninyo ang isat isa at magpatawaran kung may pagtatalo kayo.
Magbigayan kayo gaya ng pagbibigay sa inyo ng Panginoon. At higit sa lahat,
magkaroon kayo ng pag-ibig na nagbubuklod sa lahat para sa kaganapan. Maghari
sa inyong mga puso ang kapayapaan ni Kristo, na siyang dahilan ng pagkatawag sa
inyo sa iisang katawan.
Who are you praying for this Advent season (Yourself? Someone else?) Everyone
take a slip of red or green paper and write the name of the person you wish to lift up
in prayer on the paper. As you go around the circle and share your prayer concerns
with the group one at a time, attach your prayers to form a paper chain, connecting
your prayers together. After each person shares their prayer concern, respond as a
group: God, in your love, hear our prayer.
SHEPHERD: Read Lucas 2:8-14: Sa lupain ding iyoy may mga pastol na nasa
silungan na halinhinan sa pagbabantay sa kanilang kawan sa gabi. Biglang
dumating sa kanila ang isang anghel ng Panginoon at nagningning sa paligid nila
ang luwalhati ng Panginoon; gayon na lamang ang takot nila. Ngunit sinabi sa
kanila ng anghel: Huwag kayong matakot, ipinahahayag ko nga sa inyo ang
magandang balita na magdudulot ng malaking kagalakan sa lahat ng bansa. Ngayoy isinilang sa inyo sa bayan ni David ang Tagapagligtas na si Kristong Panginoon.
At ito ang magiging palatandaan ninyo: makikita ninyo ang isang sanggol na nababalot ng lampin at nakahiga sa sabsaban.
Biglang-bigla namang lumitaw kasama ng anghel ang isang makapal na
hukbo ng langit, na nagpupuri sa Diyos at sinasabi: Papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan at
sa lupay kapayapaan sa mga tao na kanyang mahal.
What a radical story we tell, claiming that the first people to come and worship
Jesus were a bunch of dirty, peanant shepherds! These were people that most
wouldnt have given the time of day, and yet they are the ones who we follow to the
manger. Scripture often refers to Jesus as a shepherd who cares for his sheep as
one who will lead others to the way of peace and compassion.
Pass around the shepherd figure and ask each person to answer: Who is (or has
been)a shepherd in your life that you are thankful for? Who is nurturing you? Who
is guiding you and helping you find your way?
LIGHT: Read from Isaiah 9:
Ang bayang nagsisilakad sa karimlan
ay nakakita ng malaking liwanag,
liwanag na nagliwayway
sa mga nasa lupain ng anino ng kamatayan.
The Messiah was expected to be like a light in a dark world, especially to the poor,
the hungry, the outcast, the marginalized, and the oppressed. For many people,
Jesus was that light. But he also said, You are the light of the world.

Pass around this votive candle and have each person share: How are you being
called to be a light this Advent season? Where are you needed right now to
illuminate some love and peace in the world?

EXPECTATION: Read this passage from Luke where the teenager Mary discovers
she will be having a baby:
Sa ika-anim na buwan, isinugo ng Diyos ang Anghel Gabriel sa isang bayan
ng Galilea na tinatawag na Nazaret. Sinugo ito sa isang birhen na ipinagkasundo na
sa isang lalaking nagngangalang Jose mula sa sambahayan ni David; at Maria
naman ang pangalan ng birhen.
Pumasok ang anghel at sinabi sa kanya: Matuwa ka, O puspos ng grasya,
sumasaiyo ang Panginoon. Nabagabag naman si Maria dahil sa pananalitang ito at
pinagwari kung ano ang pagbating ito.
At sinabi ng anghel sa kanya: Huwag kang matakot, Maria, dahil may
magandang niloloob ang Diyos para sa iyo. At ngayoy maglilihi ka at manganganak
ng isang lalaki na pangangalanan mong Jesus. Magiging dakila siya at tatawagin
siyang Anak ng Kataas-taasan, at ibibigay sa kanya ng Panginoong Diyos ang trono
ng kanyang ninunong si David. Maghahari siya sa angkan ni Jacob
magpakailanman; talaga ngang walang katapusan ang kanyang paghahari.
In the story, Mary is pretty confused when she gets this news from the angel. And
yet, very often the announcement of a new baby on the way is good news, a chance
to celebrate new life. In Advent we prepare to share the good news that the same
God who loves the world through the birth of a tiny, helpless, peasant baby, also
loves the world through each of usif we are willing. Thats pretty good news!
Pass around the baby toy and have each person share: What good news do you
have to share about your life right now? What can you celebrate?

Prepare for the Prayer:

Close by passing around the box itself and say: "Think about what gift you would
most like to receive this advent season to help you be part of sharing the good news
of Christ's love -- something that can't be bought in the store. Maybe it's rest, selfconfidence, or patience to deal with a friend."
Let them pick one piece of paper and there, they can write their
thoughts/reflections. When everyone is finished, turn off the lights in the room and
play some instrumental music.
As you start out, have in mind a simple image of the stable in Bethlehem with its
central characters and animals. Bring different characters to centre stage and ask
them to befriend you as you seek the Christ Child.
Read aloud these words as you light the candles surrounding the manger scene

Jesus came into the world as a light shining in the darkness. Sabi Niya: Ako siyang
liwanag ng mundo. Magkakaroon ng liwanag ng buhay ang sumusunod sa akin at
hinding-hindi magpapalakad-lakad sa karimlan.
(Juan 12:46)
Have each participant drop their pieces of paper inside the box, one by one and go
back to their seats quietly.
Remember a place or situation in our world where people are in suffering and
darkness.
Think of a friend, a family member or anyone who needs your prayers tonight.
Finish by praying this prayer
Ang Adbiyento ay panahon ng paghihintay na puno ang pag-asa. Kayo Panginoon
ang aming pag-asa. Sa inyo namin ihinahabilin ang aming mgapanalangin at
Christmas wishes, pangako at paghahanda para sa Pasko na nakasulat sa mga
papel sa loob ng kahon na ito. Naway dumating kayo at manahan at dalhin ang
inyong liwanag sa aming pamilya. Naway dumating kayo at manahan at dalhin ang
inyong liwanag sa aming kaibigan at katrabaho. Naway dumating kayo at manahan
at dalhin ang inyong liwanag sa aming parokya at sa aming bansa. Naway
dumating kayo at manahan at dalhin ang inyong liwanag sa amin at sa aming mga
pangako. Panalangin namin, Ama, na kami ay bigyang liwanag sa madilim naming
buhay. Sa Iyong awa, kami ay ipagtanggol mula sa mga panganib at kapahamakan
na dala ng kadiliman. Sa ngalan ng Iyong Anak na aming Tagapagligtas na si
Hesukristo, Amen.