May the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy you feel at Christmas live in your heart and travel with you throughout the year.

This is everyone's favorite little corner of the website!

Starting December 1st, it contains a new “Daily Reading” for each of the twenty-five days of December .

Each “Daily Reading” includes a quote, a short inspirational message of Hope, Peace, Love or Joy, and a question for refelction or discussion.

During December you can use the link below to print the “Daily Reading” for use in your home and with your family members.

Click here to print this reading

 

The Tradition Explained

What is the Advent Bag and Box Tradition
How it Works
Candle Order for 2010

NEW in 2010! Advent Planning Calendar (PDF)

What is the Advent Bag and Box Tradition?

For each of the twenty-five days of December there is a candle to light for Hope, Peace, Love, Joy or Light, an inspirational message (of your choosing) to read, and a card with an activity related to kindness, giving or family fun.  The activity card for the day is pulled from the Advent Bag or Box each morning or the evening before.

As the month progresses and we perform acts of kindness, giving, secret giving and family connection, the Spirit of Christmas grows inside us.

How it Works

The first night, December 1:

The family, individual or couple, gather around five unlit candles (a wreath or some version thereof is often used). There are usually four candles of one color and a fifth, white candle, is placed in the center.

One person lights the first candle and says, “I light this candle for Hope.”

Another person reads a quote or short inspirational thought.

Everyone takes a moment to reflect and give their thoughts on the reading. Even little kids are able to participate in this.

Another person opens the Advent Bag or Box and pulls out the Activity Card for the day. After discussing, doing or planning for the Activity Card in the Bag or Box, everyone joins hands and closes with a word of gratitude or a prayer, depending on your inclinations.

One person snuffs out the candle saying: “Though I snuff out this candle for Hope, we know the Hope never goes out because we are the Hope.”

And so it continues until Sunday arrives and another candle is added (new candles are added on Sundays) and lit for Peace. For the following week two candles will be lit:

“I light this candle for Hope. I light this candle for Peace.”

And so it continues night after night. With each successive week of Advent, another candle is added.

On December 25th, the white candle is lit for, “Light.”

Candle Order for 2010

December 1 - 4	HOPE
December 5-11	PEACE
December 12-18	LOVE
December 19 - 24	JOY
December 25	LIGHT

We wish you a wonderful Holiday Season filled with Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. May the Advent Bag and Box Tradition bring the elusive Christmas Spirit into your heart and home.