Introduction to the Church Year
An Introduction to the Church Year
If you’re new to the Lutheran tradition—or to any church that follows the historic liturgical year—you might wonder why the calendar feels so different from the one hanging on your wall at home.
The Church Year is not just a schedule, it’s a story. And even more—it’s your story in Christ.
Instead of structuring our spiritual lives around deadlines, sports seasons, school calendars, or holidays created by marketing teams, the Church Year invites us to structure our lives around the life of Jesus. Every season helps us remember, celebrate, and enter more deeply into what Christ has done for us and what He is doing in us.
It’s a way of saying, week after week: “My life is hidden with Christ.” (Col. 3:3)
Let’s walk through these seasons together.
Advent — Anticipating the Coming Christ
Advent is the beginning of the Church Year—a season of waiting, longing, and expectation. It stands in quiet contrast to the frenzy of December. Here we slow down and learn to pray: “Come, Lord Jesus.”
We remember His first coming in Bethlehem.
We recognize His coming to us now through His Word and Sacraments.
We anticipate His final coming to make all things new.
Advent trains our hearts in holy longing—teaching us to desire Christ above all.
Christmas — Celebrating God Coming in the Flesh
At Christmas, the waiting gives way to wonder. For twelve days, the Church celebrates what Christians call the Incarnation—God taking on human flesh. Not a myth. Not a metaphor. God actually came among us. Christmas tells us that God is not distant, but near. Not abstract or cold, but embodied and compassionate.
This season invites us to marvel at the humility, tenderness, and glory of Jesus—God with us.
Epiphany — Christ Revealed as Savior of the World
After Christmas comes Epiphany, a season of light. The word epiphany means “revelation,” and this season focuses on moments when Jesus’s identity shines clearly—His baptism, His miracles, His teaching, His call to the nations.
If Christmas tells us who He is, Epiphany shows us what He came to do: bring salvation to the whole world. It’s a season that expands our vision and enlarges our love.
Lent — Preparing for Holy Week
Lent is a season of repentance, reflection, and returning to the Lord. It’s not about earning God’s favor—Christ already won that for us. Lent simply helps us see how much we need Him and invite the Spirit to cleanse our hearts from the sin and distractions that keep us at arms distance. During these forty days, we echo the ancient prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
This season trains us in humility, honesty, and hope as we prepare for the central story of our faith.
Holy Week — The Heart of the Christian Story
Holy Week brings us to the center of it all.
Palm Sunday — Jesus enters Jerusalem as King.
Maundy Thursday — He gives us His body and blood in the Supper.
Good Friday — He dies for the sins of the world.
Holy Saturday — He rests in the tomb.
Easter Sunday — He rises in victory.
This is the week that changed the world—and changes us. Holy Week invites us into the depth of Christ’s love, the weight of His sacrifice, and the joy of His resurrection.
Pentecost — The Spirit Sends Us Into the World
Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate Pentecost—the moment when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and the Church was filled with power.
Pentecost reminds us that:
The Christian life is Spirit-enabled.
The Church has the glorious tasks of sharing Jesus with the world.
Christ continues His work through us.
What begins at Pentecost continues today in every congregation—including ours—as the Spirit forms Christ in us and sends us out as His witnesses.
Why the Church Year Matters
For many who are new to this tradition, the Church Year becomes one of the most meaningful discoveries of their Christian life. It gives:
Beauty
Each season paints a different facet of the gospel—light, joy, repentance, hope, victory.
Stability
In a chaotic world, you’re rooted in something older, deeper, and steadier than culture’s constant changes.
Formation
The Church Year shapes your heart over time, teaching you to live your days in step with Christ.
Joy
You don’t just learn about Jesus—you journey with Him.
Walking through the Church Year is like walking through the gospel again and again until it becomes part of you.
Your Invitation to Enter the Church Year
The Church Year isn’t just an idea or a history lesson—it’s a lived journey of formation, worship, and joy. It’s a way of letting the life of Christ shape the rhythm of your life… week by week, season by season, promise by promise.
And you’re invited to step into it with us.
At Trinity San Antonio, we walk this sacred path together—waiting in Advent, rejoicing at Christmas, beholding Christ in Epiphany, slowing down in Lent, standing in awe during Holy Week, and living in the Spirit’s power throughout Pentecost. Every Sunday is a doorway deeper into the story of Jesus and into the life God is forming in us.
If you’re longing for a church family, curious about historic Christian worship, or simply ready for something deeper and more rooted—come join us.
Visit us this Sunday at 10:30am and begin the journey. We’d love to walk it with you.
~ Pastor Matthew Ballmann
The Triumph of the Holy Cross
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18)
The Church has some peculiar observances. One such “feast” occurs every year on September 14: Holy Cross Day. This day is observed in both East and West where it is known as “the exaltation of the cross” and “the triumph of the cross.”
Celebrating the saving work of Christ in His conception, birth, baptism, transfiguration, death, resurrection, and ascension, along with remembering the Patriarchs and Saints, has long been the custom of the church calendar. But what about inanimate objects — a crossbeam of wood and its vertical support?
The focus of this feast day is not on the instrument of the crucifixion per se but rather the person mounted to it and the event known as the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.
It is the crucified Christ that renders the crucifix (or, simply, “the cross”) meaningful and significant. While Good Friday is dedicated to the Passion of Christ and the crucifixion, Holy Cross feast day draws into sustained focus the instrument of salvation and the throne of our God and King, Jesus of Nazareth.
Lutheran Pastor John Bombaro commenting on this day says,
“Our forefathers dedicated Holy Cross Day to jolt the Church into remembrance that Christianity is not principally about ethics. It was the cross on the hill rather than the Sermon on the Mount that produced the impact of Christianity upon the world. Let the world not forget it, nor especially the Church.”
Notwithstanding the sanitizing efforts by many, the cross cannot be marginalized within, let alone eliminated from, biblical Christian faith. The identity and relevance of Christianity are both irrevocably tied up with the crucified Christ.
The Cross — because of what it represents — is the most potent and universal symbol of the Christian faith. It has inspired both liturgical and private devotions: for example, the Sign of the Cross, which is an invocation of the Holy Trinity; a processional cross as the centering piece to the Divine Service; the “little” Sign of the Cross on head, lips and heart at the reading of the Gospel; or praying the Stations (or Way) of the Cross during the Lenten season.
The Proper Preface for this Feast Day highlights the cross in this way:
It is truly good, right and our joy that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who accomplished the salvation of mankind by the tree of the cross that, where death arose, there life also might rise again and that the serpent who overcame by the tree of the garden might likewise by the tree of the cross be overcome.
The Christian faith, then, is not first and foremost about ideas or concepts, a philosophy of ethics, or a way of life, even though it may give rise to them. At its heart lies an event in human history, an event in which God was engaged in the most intimate endeavor between the Creator and the creature, between life and death, through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The cross, on which our Savior was crucified, marks the beginning of the end for sin, death, and the devil.
On the feast of the Holy Cross day we celebrate Jesus’ saving work on the cross, remembering that only God can turn a symbol of torture and death into a symbol of victory and triumph. Let us join our hearts and minds to proclaim with all the Church to know nothing, “…except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)
Things to Do:
Study different symbols and types of crosses, history and/or significance. Then have an art project creating your own crosses.
Pray the Stations of the Cross. Point out particularly the phrase repeated at each station:
We adore You, O Christ, and praise You,
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.Make sure that crucifixes are displayed prominently throughout your home. Point out the crucifix in every room even to the smallest ones.
Gift your wife/daughters/granddaughters a crucifix neckless. A crucifix is also an appropriate gift for your husband/sons/grandsons.
Practice making the Sign of the Cross with your children.
Make a dessert in the form of a cross, or decorated with a cross.
Sing a hymn on the theme of the cross: Life High the Cross, The Old Rugged Cross, Oh the Power of the Cross, etc.
Read the various Scripture passages that speak of the role of the cross in Christ’s work of redemption: Numbers 21:4-9, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 3:13-17, John 12:20-32.
Teach Advent to Your Family
Busy parent looking for easy ways to teach your kids about Ash Wednesday?
Easy Ways to SLOW DOWn and Teach Your Family About Advent
Well it’s not even Thanksgiving and Hobby Lobby is already clearancing their Christmas decorations. Believe it or not, next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent (it completely caught me by surprise this year). It’s so easy to race through the “holidays” from one plan to the next. This is the wisdom of the church year in giving us space to focus on one season at a time. Twice in the church year a massive holy day is preceded by a season of preparation. Many of us are used to giving something up for Lent (to prepare our hearts for Easter). But it can be so difficult to wait in the season of Advent. We want carols, lights, hot cocoa, and presents! These are all wonderful joys; but if there’s one thing you do this Advent season I want to encourage you to slow down, to wait in the longing for Christmas. This is the very reason for Advent. And for your kids (and mine!) that can’t wait for Christmas day and celebration and presents there are ideas below to help them (and you!) to slow down and anticipate the coming of Jesus. There’s several ideas below but I want to encourage you towards simplicity. Pick one or two that jump out. Go for quality over quantity. We’ll republish this blog next year and you can try out the others.
Attend aDvent Services
Okay I’m goin to cheat a little right off the bat and suggest you do this in addition to 1 or 2 other ideas. The Christian life is life in the local church. If you’re not already part of a congregation I want to cordially invite you to join us a Trinity San Antonio. We have a few Advent services this year. As well as our usual Sunday service, which we’d love to have you at! There’s tons of options below or you can read through them here.
Thanksgiving leftover potluck and wreath making: Bring your Thanksgiving leftovers and make an Advent wreath with provided real greenery. Sunday, November 27th; after service; at the Woehler Family Center.
Advent Midweek Service with Meal and Crafts: Join us in a brief worship service and a shared meal. Crafts for the whole family too! Wednesday, November 30th; 5:30PM; at the Woehler Family Center.
Saint Nicholas Party: Food and bonfire as we honor the spirit of generosity modeled by the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra. Wednesday, December 7th; 5:30PM; at Pastor Matthew Ballmann’s home.
Las Posadas: This has become a highlight for the whole year for my family. We’ll recreate the story of Joseph and Mary going inn to inn trying to find a place to stay. There’s songs, Mexican hot chocolate, a Mariachi band, piñatas, costumes, and of course buñuelos! Wednesday, December 14th; 6:00PM, outside the Woehler Family Center.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Worship and anticipate the arrival of Christ ending in a beautiful candlelight moment. Saturday, December 24th; 4:00PM, at the Woehler Family Center.
Christmas Day Service: This year Christmas is on a Sunday! What better day to gather for the Divine Service than Christmas. Please join us at 10:30AM on December 25th at the Woehler Family Center.
PRactice Generosity
There’s no better season to give to others than Christmas, when God gave us His Son. The best thing about this idea is it can be as simple or complex at you like. You could:
Tell your kids to secretly give their family and friends gifts. Kids get a big kick out of the anonymity and it keeps the focus off ourselves.
Spend some time at a local retirement community. Often the elderly unfortunately get too few visitors and this can be difficult season for many to be alone. Kids are also a great addition to a visit and it can be a great opportunity for conversation.
Put together bundles for the homeless. Buy some warm clothes, socks, toothbrushes, and other essential items. Pack them up in bundles and put them in your car. When you see someone in need give the bundle! Or make a trip to a local shelter to deliver several.
Invite someone over for dinner. Those of us with families can take for granted our daily opportunity for community (or chaos). Invite a neighbor, a single friend, a military member you know over. They may not have a place to celebration traditions and opening your home can be a great way to share.
Read an Advent Devotional
Reading a daily Advent devotional at the dinner table is a super easy way to reorient ourselves around Jesus. There’s no shortage of good ones out there. For younger kids I’d recommend Counting to Christmas. We have copies of this at church on Sundays, our gift to you! Still doable with younger kids but one for older kids, or you and your spouse, is God Is in the Manger. This book features reflections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer that you can read in a few minutes.
This can be combined with the classic Advent Candles and wreath. Kids love to light and snuff the candles each night to countdown the days to Christmas.
You could also read from the Lectionary (remember we’re going to Series A this Advent). Here’s a handy link. Consider reading the passages multiple times each week.
While not a devotional this is a great season to learn about the historical Saint Nicholas. This is a beautiful book to read to your family.
Make an Advent Craft
Here’s a few ideas:
Buy (or make!) an Advent Calendar to countdown the days to Christmas
Make some Advent “stained glass” (these are paper crafts also some coloring sheets are there).
Come to the wreath making after Service on November 27th! Or grab some greenery and make your own.
Make your favorite Christmas cookies and combine with the idea about generosity and share with someone.
If your feeling ambitious you could make red and white striped candy canes. You can talk about how they look like a shepherd’s crook (like the shepherds who witnessed the birth of our Good Shepherd or it’s a J for Jesus!), the red for the blood Jesus spilled to make us white as snow.
Listen to Advent Music
Just wait. You can wait to play your favorite Christmas music. I know it’s hard (okay even I cheat). But there are tons of wonderful Advent songs that have us sit in anticipation and longing. Maybe you can even make it practical but talking about patience with the kids. Here’s a playlist to get you started.
Add to Your Homeschool or Supplement School
If you homeschool your kids, add Advent and Saint Nicholas to your classes. Read Advent scriptures. And definitely make sure to include color pages and other fun worksheets. There’s plenty of resources out there even for Lent specifically. Definitely check out: https://www.lutheranhomeschool.com/. We also love the site https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/ (note you do need a free account). You can search for Advent or Saint Nicholas and filter to free (just make sure to review the content before handing to your kiddos). And bust out those purple crayons since that’s the Advent liturgical color.
If you don’t homeschool I encourage you to supplement your kid’s classroom learning. Any of the above can be added as “homework” or done as a mini class after school around the diner table.
More Ideas
If you’re still hungry for more recommendations, check out our previous years’ blogs here and here.
Whatever you do, or don’t, make it intentional and talk about it! Even one little activity with some good conversation will go a long way to bring your children, and your family, into preparation for the majesty of Christmas. Blessings on your Advent season!
About the Author
David Hein is a member of Trinity San Antonio with his wife Mindi and three boys: Kirk, Wesley, and Caleb. He is a first year seminarian at Lutheran Brethren Seminary. The picture below is the closest they’ve gotten to one with everyone’s eyes open.
Teach Ash Wednesday to Your Family
Busy parent looking for easy ways to teach your kids about Ash Wednesday?
Easy Ways to Teach Your Family About Ash Wednesday (And maybe Lent…)
Perhaps you’re like me staring at three unruly boys and wondering how do I teach these lovable miscreants about Ash Wednesday? No matter the number, age, and gender of your children it’s a simple fact us parents are long on aspiration and short on time. So this sleepless parent thought he’d share his findings on some easy ways to teach your whole family about Ash Wednesday (and a little bit of Lent too). Before we dive in, let me offer a piece of advice: make a plan, keep it simple, and participate in Church. If you don’t have a church home I cordially invite you to join us at Trinity at 10:30 AM on Sundays.
Review the Previous Blog Posts
If you haven’t already, read the two great blog posts Pastor Matthew has put together here and here summarizing Ash Wednesday and Lent, respectively. If you’re old hat to the church year or brand new it will help to brush up on the basics for your young, inquiring minds.
Attend an Ash Wednesday Service
One of the best ways we can catechize our children is faithful attendance to church. Ash Wednesday is an especially great one for kids because of the tactile imposition of the ashes. Kids love stuff and textures. The feel of the gritty yet smooth ash on their foreheads is something you can discuss with them to hype the anticipation. Plus you can talk about how we sacrifice a Wednesday evening to gain an encounter with Christ. Lent is all about sacrifice that allows space or resources for God’s work. What better way to start the season than gathering with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Sacrifice and Serve as Family
If you know one thing about Lent it’s the tradition of giving something up: coffee, rich food, social media, Netflix or other streaming services. Too often though we can treat this as our second chance at New Year’s resolutions. It’s certainly good to intentionally work on self improvement; but it falls short of the fuller vision for Lent. Fasting and self-denial are meant to create space for almsgiving (generosity). Maybe your family goes out to eat or orders in once a week; choose to forgo that luxury and instead donate the money to a food bank. Perhaps family movie night is sacrificed for a night of prayer. Consider skipping a kid’s event (sports, drama, etc.) to go serve as a family. There’s endless options; but definitely talk about it as a family and discuss the why.
With older kids consider an actual fast day (Friday is a great choice in remembrance of Good Friday). You could cut out meat, eat simply (bread and water), or consider a full day without a meal (I find sundown Thursday to sundown Friday works well). Again don’t just focus on the sacrifice use the extra time or money purposefully.
Read or Memorize Psalm 23
David’s most famous Psalm is also a great one for Ash Wednesday. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil” (verse 4). We are reminded that the LORD truly is our Shepherd who guides our lives, gives us rest, saves us, and one day we will dwell not in the sadness and pain of death (from dust to dust) but we will dwell in the “house of the LORD”. It’s also a great Psalm for kids to read (short, not too difficult) and a must memorize passage of Scripture.
Again with older kids I’d commend following the lectionary as a family. The Ash Wednesday passages are the same regardless of year: Joel 2:12-19, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10, and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. Throughout Lent there are additional readings provided by the historic church. Our church is in Series C of the Three-Year cycle (easy link here). Typically you’ll read the week’s passages twice with the Old Testament reading on Monday and Thursday, Epistle on Tuesday and Friday, Gospel on Wednesday and Saturday; but there is complete freedom in what works for your family.
Make a Lenten Chain
You’ve likely heard of (or eaten) Advent calendars. Those 24 or 25 boxes of chocolates that count from December 1 to Christmas. There’s a beautiful practice for Lent that’s similar. You make a series of paper loops like the image on the right. Each day you’ll tear one off to count down to Easter. There’s an easy link here. You could also go a step farther and write things to pray for. Or perhaps use this Lenten Guide for activities you can add to each loop. Better yet, have your kids come up with their own! Another fun “craft” is making pretzels. They are somewhat bland which is good for Lent and the shape looks like arms folded in prayer.
Listen to Lenten Music
Kids love music. Find or create a playlist of Lenten specific hymns. Sing them as a family. Here’s two to get you started: one and two.
Add to Your Homeschool or Supplement School
If you homeschool your kids, add Ash Wednesday and Lent to your history units. Read Lenten scripture. And definitely make sure to include color pages and other fun worksheets. There’s plenty of resources out there even for Lent specifically. Definitely check out: https://www.lutheranhomeschool.com/. We also love the site https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/ (note you do need a free account). You can search for Ash Wednesday or Lent and filter to free (just make sure to review the content before handing to your kiddos). Or here’s a direct link to some coloring pages. And bust out those purple crayons since that’s the Lenten liturgical color.
If you don’t homeschool I encourage you to supplement your kid’s classroom learning. Any of the above can be added as “homework” or done as a mini class after school around the diner table.
Whatever you do, or don’t, make it intentional and talk about it! Even one little activity with some good conversation will go a long way to bring your children, and your family, into preparation for the glory of Easter. Blessings on your Lenten season!
About the Author
David Hein is a member of Trinity San Antonio with his wife Mindi and three boys: Kirk, Wesley, and Caleb.
How to Celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior
Forty days of Lent is drawing to a close; we are walking through Holy Week and are about to arrive at the biggest celebration of the Church Year, Easter Sunday! But Easter isn't just one lone day at the end of weeks of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Easter Sunday kicks off the season of Easter, which lasts 50 days until Pentecost Sunday.
In the cycle of the Church Year, seasons of fasting are followed by seasons of feasting. So how can we press into a season of feasting and celebrating our Savior's resurrection for the next 50 days? Here are several ideas; hopefully you can find a couple that will work for you and your family this year!
Easter Sunday
It's a celebration, so let's party! A party looks different depending on the person, house and family you come from, but a party usually incorporates the five senses. There might be music, some fun activities, almost always good food, and maybe even some decorations. Think about how you want to celebrate Christ's resurrection tomorrow; maybe it's a playlist of Easter worship and hymns that you put on first thing in the morning, or your grandma's famous coffee cake for breakfast. It might be a special meal for dinner, or a banner that says "He is Risen!" You might want to fill your house with Easter lilies, yellow daffodils and pink tulips. Of all the days to go all out on a celebration, Resurrection Sunday is the day!
Even though we will be in our homes for worship services this year, we can still continue the sense of celebration by dressing up in our Easter best. If you have something white, you might want to wear it to remind yourself of your baptism and the new life we have in Christ!
The Week Following Easter
We can keep following Jesus' footsteps even beyond Holy Week. Here are two recommendations for you to try sometime during the week after Easter Sunday:
1. Fish for Breakfast
Read the beautiful story in John 21, where Jesus appears to the disciples and makes them fish and bread for breakfast. Yes, the resurrected Christ cooks breakfast for a bunch of fishermen! After you read this passage, go ahead and eat some fish for breakfast! Baked white fish with eggs and toast could be a place to start, but if you have a fire pit, wrap some fish in foil and make it really authentic. Or if fish for breakfast just isn't your thing, try going fishing after reading this passage.
2. Take an "Emmaus Walk"
Read Luke 24:13-35, and then take a walk with a neighbor, friend or your family and discuss a topic from Scripture, or talk about what it would have been like to be these followers of Jesus having this conversation on the road.
The Season of Easter
Here are some ideas for keeping the joy and celebration of the resurrection before us in the 50 days of Eastertide:
1. Listen to Easter music.
Use a playlist like this one or pick a different Easter hymn/song to learn each week during this season. You could sing this song every morning after breakfast or each night after dinner.
2. Keep your Easter decor up until Pentecost.
If you have a cross you could drape it with a white cloth, or maybe you want to make or purchase a special sign or banner that says," He Lives!" or "He is Risen!" to keep out during the season of Easter.
3. Party every week!
Pick a certain day of the week and plan a party on that day every week of Eastertide! It doesn't have to be complicated-you could have a Blue Bell ice cream party, a water balloon party, an Easter music jam session (if you're the musical type!), a game of hide and seek (read John 20:19 and talk about how the disciples went into hiding after Jesus' crucifixion), or a movie night (Maybe something like Ben Hur (1959) or Jesus of Nazareth (1977), or another family favorite. Be sure to preview before showing to your kids!).
4. Make or buy a special candle to remind you of the resurrection, and light it at breakfast or dinner each day during the season of Easter. Try this DIY idea.
5. Join Natalie every Monday of Eastertide for an Easter themed children's book read aloud on our YouTube channel:
Observing Advent - Part II
As promised, here is the second installment of our Advent recommendations for you and your family! These are some extras to help you find ways to make this season of Advent a meaningful one. Book recommendations, ornaments with the names of God, and saints days are covered here; and scroll to the bottom for our Spotify Advent playlist!
Picture Book Recommendations
Books to read the day you put out Advent calendars and decorate your Christmas tree:
Waiting for Christmas: A Story about the Advent Calendar
The Legend of the Christmas Tree
Some beautiful picture books that are based on the biblical story of Christmas:
The Story of Christmas (Golden Book)
The Christmas Story According to Luke
Three great choices for telling the real story behind Santa Claus:
Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins
Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend
The Legend of the Christmas Stocking
Picture books based on the history of a Christmas carol, or containing the lyrics:
Silent Night, Holy Night (Traditions of Faith series)
A good book to read on Saint Lucia Day:
And some additional favorites:
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree
Reading Recommendations for Adults (or kids ready to listen to/independently read longer books and poetry)
Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
The Christmas Stories and Poems of George MacDonald
This last book is actually a children's chapter book. The story follows an adventurous journey of a boy during the time of Christ's birth, and his journey intersects with the Christmas story throughout the book. Great family read aloud, although be aware you may need to edit out some of the scary scenes for younger listeners!
Ever Thine Home Ornaments
Ever Thine Home, a part of FamilyLife ministry, sells a variety of sets of different ornaments that focus on the names of God. One of these sets, His Eternal Names, includes a family devotional and activity that can be done throughout the month of December leading up to Christmas. You can find the details here.
Celebrate Special Saint's Days
1) St. Nicholas Day, December 6th
Did you know Saint Nicholas was a real person? He lived in Asia Minor in the third century, and was a Christian bishop. Legend has it that he was known for his generosity to those in need. One story tells of a poor family with three daughters who could never be married because their father didn't have the dowry money needed to arrange marriages for them. Nicholas secretly gave three bags of coins to this family by throwing them down their chimney; according to the legend, these bags landed in the daughter's stockings which were hanging up to dry.
On this day we like to read a book about St. Nicholas (see three good choices above) and discuss ways we can show generosity to others just as St. Nicholas did. This would be a great day to plan an act of service as a family! We also like to hang up our stockings on this day, and sometimes leave chocolate coins in the kid's shoes as well.
2) St. Lucia Day, December 13th
This is a day to remember Lucia, an early Christian martyr. This wealthy young woman used her dowry to help those in need. As legend has it, Lucia would travel into the catacombs where persecuted Christians were hiding, with candles on her head to free up her hands for the food she carried to them.
St. Lucia Day became particularly popular in Sweden, and is celebrated by having the oldest daughter in the family wear a crown of candles and deliver saffron buns and gingersnaps to her parents first thing in the morning on December 13th. We love to deliver these to friends and neighbors later in the day as well! See above list for a picture book biography to read on this day.
Our favorite recipes for this day:
Saffron Buns
Ingredients
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup sugar
One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast
3 1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup of sour cream
2 large eggs
Raisins
1 egg, beaten
In a small pot, heat the milk, saffron, and 1 teaspoon of sugar together until the milk is steamy. Remove from heat and let cool until about 115°.
Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
Whisk together 3 1/2 cups of the flour, remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, salt.
Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast milk saffron mixture, the eggs, the butter, and the sour cream. Mix the ingredients until well incorporated.
Use a dough hook on a stand mixer (or mix by hand) on low speed. Slowly add additional flour, a tablespoon at a time, kneading to incorporate after each addition. Do this until the dough is still a little sticky to the touch, but does not completely stick to your hands when you handle it.
Shape the dough into a ball and place in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. (Note at this point you can refrigerate overnight and bake in the morning.)
Let sit in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.
When the dough has doubled in size, gently press it down and knead it a couple of times. Break off a piece and form it into a ball about 2 inches wide. Roll the ball out into a snake, about 14 inches long.
Then curl the ends in opposite directions, forming an "S" with spirals at each end. Place on a lined baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough shapes double, 30 minutes to an hour.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Using a pastry brush, brush some beaten egg over the tops and sides of the uncooked buns. Place raisins in the centers of the "S" spirals.
Place in the oven and bake at 400°F for about 10 to 11 minutes (turning halfway through cooking to ensure even browning), until the buns are golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before eating.
Gingersnaps
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar for decoration
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and molasses until well blended. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; stir into the molasses mixture to form a dough. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll the balls in the remaining sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Last but not least we have an Advent Spotify playlist for you! This playlist includes classic Christmas carols, but also some beautiful lesser known Advent hymns. Happy listening, and may this season be a blessed one for you and your family!