• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Building Faith

Building Faith

A Ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • Who We Are
    • Our Writers
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
  • ARTICLES
    • ARTICLES BY TOPIC
    • MOST RECENT ARTICLES
  • EN ESPAÑOL
  • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • Episcopal Teacher
    • Choosing Curriculum
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Signs of Life
    • Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John
    • 5 Marks of Love
    • Growing a Rule of Life
    • It’s Time To…
    • #AdventWord
  • SUPPORT US
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home/Advent/Preparing our Hearts for Advent: An Intergenerational Celebration
A slice of wood with large candle, jars, and greens decorating it.

Preparing our Hearts for Advent: An Intergenerational Celebration

Oh, the joys of the season of lights! We decorate our parishes and homes and open our hearts with expectation of what this new season will bring. But can there really be a quiet season anymore in the midst of the chaos? Can we really focus our hearts on the greatest gift of grace the world has known? I have to believe that we can and that part of my place in this world is to help others to find that peace in the midst of it all. So, last year I curated an event for the First Sunday of Advent to set the tone for the rest of the season. 

The Kickoff Event

We unveiled this interactive experience at our “Welcome Home” evening event on the First Sunday in Advent. There was no registration; we welcomed all to just show up. This was tricky, so we guessed the number of people according to previous attendance. We wanted to make it accessible for all so we prepared a craft specifically for younger folks (gingerbread houses, in keeping with the Welcome Home theme), a few other smaller crafts for kids, and for the adults, we created a modern Advent wreath. 

We set up a table with all the supplies so folks could just line up on either side and take what they needed. The goal wasn’t necessarily to deliver this awesome craft; it was more to welcome folks back into community and to help them engage with one another. This is why we made the crafts as simple and elegant as possible (We even hot glued the gingerbread houses (which were made with graham crackers) prior to the event so as to make them easier for children to decorate.). However, we also wanted the adult craft to feel special, like an heirloom piece, so our parishioners would treasure not just the craft, but also the time spent together creating it, so we created something simple but elegant: a modern Advent wreath. 

Supplies List

The Modern Advent Wreath

  • Greens
  • Wood Slices
  • Small mason jars
  • Tea light candle
  • Votive Candle (Dollar Store)
  • Wooden house 
  • Pine cones -optional
  • Cinnamon sticks- optional
  • Orange slices- optional
  • Plastic Berries-optional
  • Art Stickers- print on Avery labels
  • Twine 
  • Sharpies 

The Gingerbread Houses

  • Graham Crackers 
  • Gluten-free Graham Crackers 
  • Assorted Candy
  • Frosting 
  • Plates 

Preparing and Hosting the Event

We decorated our Commons Area beautifully for the season and set out the crafts along with holiday-themed snacks and drinks. We played soft music from our Advent playlist and let folks mingle, then we explained the crafts and let them jump in. Everyone loved the crafts and snacks and spent a lot of time on them. We had several parishioners give great feedback that it was meaningful to them, and they were happy with their wreaths and proudly displaying them in their homes. Fun was had by all, young and old. 

Continuing the Quiet with Visio Divina

In addition, our parish used the Welcome Home Advent series from Sanctified Art. We purchased the bundle with the art resources and created a space for dedicated Visio Divina in our chapel (a secondary worship space) by enlarging the images at our local Staples and attaching them to canvas with paste. Then we placed the art around the room on easels and welcomed folks to use the space throughout Advent whenever they felt the need. Each week the art was highlighted and used on our social media, as well. 


All photos were provided by author.

Print PDF

September 14, 2022 By Michelle Palmer (she/her/hers) Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Advent, Advent Formation, Intergenerational, Intergenerational Popular Tagged With: Advent, craft, event, intergenerational, preparation, sanctified art, visio divina, wreath

About Michelle Palmer (she/her/hers)

Michelle Palmer (she/her) is married to her high school sweetheart (Adam) and they have been serving in different capacities of ministry together for 26 years. She is a mother of five girls; it has been her greatest joy and honor to be their mom and she is constantly learning from them. There is nothing like a good roasting from a teenager to keep you humble! She serves as Children, Youth, and Family Minister at Fellowship Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma and leads Contemporary worship with her husband Adam. She’s an Enneagram 7w8 and is known for her loud, contagious laugh and big opinions like a true Latina. She can often be found on her porch with her dogs, a good book, and an iced honey oat milk latte.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Subscribe to Building Faith

You’ll get new articles, plus free weekly updates in your inbox.

We respect your privacy. View our privacy policy here.

Search Our Site

Search by Topic

New Articles

New and Recent Lent Resources for 2023

If you’re busy organizing children’s, youth, adult, or parish-wide programs for Lent and Holy Week, …

Continue Reading about New and Recent Lent Resources for 2023

Black History Month Resources for 2023

February is Black History Month in the U.S., and the theme for 2023 is “Black Resistance.” According …

Continue Reading about Black History Month Resources for 2023

Resources to Learn, Pray, and Act This Martin Luther King Day

Every third Monday in January, around his birthday (January 15), we commemorate the life and work of …

Continue Reading about Resources to Learn, Pray, and Act This Martin Luther King Day

Footer

Keep In touch

  • Email
  • Facebook

Upcoming Webinars

Eventbrite Registration

Building Faith

Lifelong Learning, Virginia Theological Seminary
3737 Seminary Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22304

Copyright © 2023 · Building Faith · A Ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary

Design by Blue+Pine Creative, Inc.

Subscribe to Building Faith

Get Articles and Resources by Email

Privacy Policy