1. Sing Christmas Carols: primary tools for sharing faith.
Singing carols together during December can be an evangelizing event. In 2017, singing carols together drew thousands into communities of faith, hope and joy. Download free Christmas Song Sheet 2011 (no permission needed). Sheets can be used at private family gatherings, at organizational parties, or at parish events.
The goal of Carols in a home is to enjoy the spiritual dimensions of these traditional Christmas songs and experiencing their inner power. In doing so, we join many generations of ancestors in worshiping God. A Carol Festival in the home would include the deliberate use of Jesus-centered Christmas carols as the majority of the songs, an opportunity for faith sharing, a Scripture reading and time for prayer with a crèche as a centerpiece. Carols might also piggyback an existing family ritual like putting up a tree or watching the Yule log on television…
2. Offer a Carol Festival in your parish, plan several months ahead (early July is best), by finding friends who would like to help others sing their way back to Bethlehem during early December. Here is more about a guidebook and a training DVD.
Free-Standing Advent/Christmas Workshop, try this activity
3. Plan for a Three Kings celebration that asks how many people come through your door each week? Is it just you and members of your household? Do you welcome friends, guests, strangers. Would you let these three in? For more about welcoming the three wise men and about the blessing of doorways read here.
4. If you are interested in offering a parish Christmas Carol Festival and its FIVE month process. Read a Zenit Article. Or watch a video about this many layered program
5. More suggestions for encouraging faith and Advent Fire through our VIDEO about bringing CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS TO LIFE
6. Watch a BRITISH CHRISTMAS VIDEO —World War I –Silent Night