First Sunday/Share Your Advent Wreath

Ground pine from our woods, rose and violet  balls from Walmart

Stir up Your might, we beg You, O Lord, and come, so that we may escape through Your protection and be saved by Your help from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen   
-traditional advent wreath prayer for the first Sunday.


A new liturgical year has begun. This year, with a new missal that will hopefully draw us even deeper into the mysteries of our redemption and union with Christ in His eternal offering to the Father.

Yesterday we had unseasonably warm weather for our advent greens scrounging hike. With  no snow on the ground this time, it was a cinch to locate and pull up  lots of ground pine. My 17- year- old daughter  threaded the greens through our rusty old wreath frame, and I wired on the pink and purple mini Christmas balls. These are a recent addition to our advent wreaths.  We don't put up our tree until Gaudete  Sunday, so the kids appreciate a little early sparkle. So nice of Walmart to provide balls in Advent colors.

If you do an advent wreath at your house, send me a picture to post on this blog. Also, if you have any other visually appealing advent items in your house--Jesse trees or what have you, send those. If your children are in the pictures, so much the better.  I don't do lots of family/homemaking/kid stuff here, but there's no better time of year to make an exception.

Come, Lord Jesus.