human Formation - Amazon S3 · Making the value of the gift inexpensive encourages creativity and...

© 2013 Augustine Institute. 1

human Formation

A CHRISTMAS ELEPHANT

OBJECTIVE: The goal for this gathering is human formation through Christian

fellowship. The group will grow in community through an evening of sharing in

food and the exchange of Christmas gifts.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you

this sign; the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name

him Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14

Community Builders


SESSION SNAPSHOT You’ll need to decide whether to invite families to join your group for this event. The group will come together for dinner or Christmas snacks, and exchange

gifts. The gift exchange will be a white elephant game, where gifts are given stolen through strategy. By getting the families of the teens involved, you create an opportunity for fellowship and evangelization in the family. Of course your times will vary, especially if you have a larger group; use the chart below as a general guide.

Time Session Session Overview10 minutes Dig In Welcome, introduction and opening prayer.

5 minutes Plant Seeds Proclamation of the Christmas story.

90 minutes Sink Roots Teens (or families) will share in a Christmas meal and white elephant gift exchange.

10 minutes Live It Direct teens to their Teen Sheets for ways to pray and continue the gift of sharing themselves with others during the season of Christmas.

5 minutes Closing Prayer Close in prayer.


Prepare in Advance:

➜ Choose a date and location. Consider someone’s home or a nice room at your church.

➜ Determine the type of food to serve. Potluck usually works well (planning and clear communication will prevent you from having 8 potato side dishes and no main course). Appetizers and/or desserts also work well.

➜ Communicate with every person attending the party (including parents and siblings) that each person will need to bring a wrapped gift of $5 value or less.

➜ Ask for volunteers to decorate an hour in advance. ➜ Write numbers on slips of paper for the gift exchange. Estimate the number

of people attending, and bring extras.

supplies needed:

➜ Place settings: plates, napkins, cups, utensils

➜ Dinner or desserts (see below) and drinks

➜ A hat or bowl

➜ Small pieces of paper for drawing numbers

➜ Pens or pencils

➜ Christmas decorations and music

➜ Extra white elephant gifts (for those who forget)

➜ Teen Sheets

Text, tweet, and/or update your group’s Facebook page to remind the teens about the gathering. Use a message like this: • Let’s celebrate Christmas together! Dinner and white elephant gift exchange, [Day] at [time] at [location]. Bring a dish to share and a wrapped white elephant gift.

If you are inviting the families of the discipleship group to join you, make sure to give plenty of advanced notice.

Making the value of the gift inexpensive encourages creativity and keeps the financial pressure off of families. The gifts can be something that people would desire (such as an iTunes gift card or a box of fancy cookies) or a gag gift intended to make someone laugh (an old Barbie doll or a funny book, for example).


Welcome people as they arrive, and offer drinks.

If the families don’t know each other, consider getting people to mingle with a Christmas mixer. A few party mixer ideas can be found at: http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/default.aspx?Search=Mixers Open in prayer. Pray a decade of the rosary, meditating on the third joyful mystery: the Nativity (the birth of Jesus Christ).

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’ius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!’” —Luke 2: 1–14

The Gospel of the Lord.

If you have the families of the discipleship group in attendance, consider asking one of the fathers to lead the decade of the rosary and to read the gospel proclamation. This gives an excellent witness to the teens of spiritual leadership in a family.

DIG IN

PLANT SEEDS


Enjoy your meal together. Be sure to socialize with everyone, including family members that you may not have met before. This will help to make others more comfortable and foster fellowship and community among the families, which is the purpose of the gathering.

Consider the following topics for discussion: • What are everyone’s plans for the Christmas holidays? • What are some Christmas family traditions that you practice? • How was your Advent? Was it fruitful?

After dinner, begin the white elephant gift exchange. Have everyone put their wrapped gifts in the middle of the room.

You’ll need the hat or bowl filled with paper slips that you prepared in advance. Make sure you have written as many numbers on the paper slips as there are people participating. (For example: If there are 23 people playing, you will need numbers 1 – 23). White Elephant Game Rules Have everyone sit in a circle around the pile of gifts. Have each person draw a number from the hat. SAY: Many of you may have done a white elephant gift exchange before. But since this is usually only done at Christmastime, I’ll refresh your memory on the rules.

The person who drew number 1 picks the first gift from the pile of gifts. That person will open his or her gift and hold it up for everyone to see. The person who drew number 2 has two options: He or she can pick a new gift from the pile and unwrap it, OR the person may steal the first person’s gift. This continues, with each new person getting to choose between taking a new gift from the pile or stealing any other gift that’s been opened. If a person’s gift is stolen, he or she can either pick to unwrap a new gift or steal some-one else’s gift. A few rules about stealing… • You can’t steal your gift back from someone directly after it was stolen from you. • A gift can only be stolen three times. • On the third steal, the gift is frozen and cannot be taken.

The game ends when everyone has a gift. Okay…questions? Let’s begin!

SINK ROOTS


LIVE IT!

Wrap up the gathering by handing out Teen Sheets and encouraging teens to continue celebrating the season with the same spirit of sharing and fellowship that you shared this evening.

Encourage them to pray the Litany of the Infant Child Jesus, found on their Teen Sheets, during the coming week. Then give them a few minutes to review the Bear Fruit ideas, and ask if they have other suggestions to share.

BEAR FRUIT

During the season of Christmas, look for tangible ways that you can give more of your-self to others. Here are a few suggestions: • Food Bank: Collect food from your home or purchase extra at the grocery store, and donate it to a local food bank.

• Clothing Donation: Go through your closets and find clothes that you no longer wear or a coat that you don’t use, and donate it to charity.

• Help Your Parents: This week, do a chore for your parents that you normally wouldn’t do, such as cooking a meal, dusting, or shoveling snow.

CLOSING PRAYER

SAY: God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of Your Word made flesh. Make us a people of this light. Make us faithful to your Word, that we may bring Your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Christmas season is a time of great grace in the Church. Christmas is not only celebrated for one day a year, but it is celebrated for an Octave (eight straight days). The season of Christmas lasts for three weeks, all the way until the Solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus. Not only do we celebrate the birth of Christ,

but we also celebrate many other major feast days during this time, including the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the Feast of the Holy Family, and the Epiphany. During the season of Christmas, take time daily to pray the Litany of the Infant Jesus, asking Jesus to bring the graces of the season of Christmas into your life.

Litany of the Infant Jesus

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Infant, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Infant, true God, have mercy on us. Infant, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. Infant, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us. Infant, strong in weakness, have mercy on us. Infant, powerful in tenderness, have mercy on us. Infant, Treasure of grace, have mercy on us. Infant, Fountain of love, have mercy on us. Infant, Renewer of the heavens, have mercy on us. Infant, Repairer of the evils of the earth, have mercy on us. Infant, Head of the angels, have mercy on us. Infant, Root of the patriarchs, have mercy on us. Infant, Speech of the prophets, have mercy on us. Infant, Desire of the Gentiles, have mercy on us. Infant, Joy of shepherds, have mercy on us. Infant, Light of the Magi, have mercy on us. Infant, Salvation of infants, have mercy on us.

CHRISTMAS ELEPHANT

Teen sheet


Infant, Expectation of the just, have mercy on us. Infant, Instructor of the wise, have mercy on us. Infant, First-fruit of all saints, have mercy on us.

Be merciful, spare us, O Infant Jesus. Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.

From the slavery of the children of Adam, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From the slavery of the devil, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From the evil desires of the flesh, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From the malice of the world, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From the pride of life, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From the inordinate desire of knowing, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From blindness of spirit, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From an evil will, Infant Jesus, deliver us. From our sins, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through Thy most pure Conception, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy most humble Nativity, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy tears, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy most painful Circumcision, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy most glorious Epiphany, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy most pious Presentation, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy most divine life, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy poverty, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy many sufferings, Infant Jesus, deliver us. Through Thy labors and travels, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Infant Jesus. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Jesus, Infant, hear us. Jesus, Infant, graciously hear us.

Let us pray… O Lord Christ, Thou were pleased so to humble Thyself in Thine incarnate divinity and most sacred humanity as to be born in time and become a little child. Grant that we may acknowledge infinite wisdom in the silence of a child, power in weakness, and majesty in humiliation. Adoring Thy humiliations on earth, may we contemplate Thy glories in Heaven, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever.

Amen.


• Food Bank: Collect food from your home or purchase extra at the grocery store, and donate it to a local food bank.

• Clothing Donation: Go through your closets and find clothes that you no longer wear or a coat that you don’t use, and donate it to charity.

• Help Your Parents: This week, do a chore for your parents that you normally wouldn’t do, such as cooking a meal, dusting, or shoveling snow.

During the season of Christmas, look for tangible ways that you can give more of yourself to others. Here are a few suggestions:

Q 2: Quotes and Questions

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14

© 2013 Augustine Institute.

parent sheet

CHRISTMAS ELEPHANTParents, we invite you to use this overview to continue the conversation that we

started this week with your teen. And we encourage you to respond to the questions

as well, so your teen can see that God is working through you also.

What We’re Talking About

During this week's session, the discipleship group had fun celebrating the season of

Christmas through fellowship. The group shared a meal and exchanged gifts through

a white elephant gift exchange. They learned by example and participation that when

we share of ourselves and our time, we are giving the greatest gift.

Make the Connection Here are some conversation starters for this week. Remember to share your

perspectives as well.

Q 2: Quotes and Questions

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign; the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14

“A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.” —Thomas à Kempis

➜ What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions you share as a family? When and where did the tradition originate?

➜ What does the season of Christmas teach us about giving to others?

➜ How are community and family important for Christian living?

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