Daily Advent Challange

Happy Advent!

Often we hear that this is best time of year, and in my opinion it IS! 

I am sure we all love the preparations for Christmas: shopping, decorating,cooking, music! These things bring joy and laughter and peace and stir something in our hearts that we often can't put words to. This time of year is great. But why? What are we really preparing for?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE decorating, baking, and christmas music as much as the next guy (I may or may not sneak christmas music throughout the entire year but shhhhh don't tell) but what I also love about advent is that it gives us the chance to pause, look at our lives and remember what we should be preparing our hearts for in daily life throughout the year. We have a savior, a king, who became one of us so that we could live in freedom from our sins. How do our lives reflect this truth? How are we saying "yes" to Him each day as Mary did? 

Over the next 4 weeks I will be posting a daily advent challenge here on our blog and also on our facebook page.

Some will be actions, others will be more inward focused, but each of them will challenge us to truly enter into this season of advent and see where Jesus is meeting us each day and what He is asking of us as we prepare to celebrate His birth. 

Are you with me?

Need a little nudge?

This may make you think...

Here were go:

Day 1: Today look for one small sign that God is present in your daily life. Give Him thanks for His presence. If you find that He is absent, sit for a few moments and find out why. 

(Christmas) Music Mondays!

I LOVE Christmas music! Not only can it make ANY day better, but the words stir my heart and quickly remind me of who He is and how He loves us. SO, this advent I will be posting a song each Monday in hopes that my love for Christmas music can be shared. Maybe the words will help you focus on why this season is so significant. Maybe it will just be a sweet break in your day. Either way, I hope you enjoy Christmas music Mondays! Feel free to share your favorite songs as well!

Our first song is "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus".

This version came out last year and I've been obsessed with it since. 

Hope you Enjoy!

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Chris Tomlin)

    Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne. 

Wear Red on Friday!!

On Friday, November 19, all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington are invited and encouraged to wear red in celebration of Cardinal-designate Wuerl’s November 20 elevation to the College of Cardinals and the honor it will be for our archbishop and archdiocese.

Why Red? Fr. Greg's Blog explains:
Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church wear red as a sign of their readiness to “act with fortitude, even to the point of spilling your blood for the increase of the Christian faith, for peace and harmony among the people of God, for freedom and the spread of the Holy Roman Catholic Church."




SOOOO celebrate with the Archdiocese of Washington and wear your red tomorrow!!!

LOCK-IN!!

Come One! Come All! St. Andrew's Youth Group Lock-In!!

(All teens entering grades 9-12 are welcome)

December 10^th-11^th 7pm-7am  in St. Andrew Apostle All Purpose Room!

A night filled with games, movies, food, music and fun!!  Bring a friend and come ready to have fun...

ALL.NIGHT.LONG!

*Permission Slips due NOT LATER THAN Sunday, December 5^th *

For More Information Contact:

Joanna Moleski

301-287-8209 or st.andrewsym@gmail.com

Happy Hallow (HOLY) Ween?!?!

I know this is a big weekend...lots of costumes, candy, parties , friends...it is Halloween! But have you ever wondered WHY it is such a big deal? How are we as Catholic Christians supposed to respond to Halloween?

The truth is we SHOULD be partying! Halloween (or all Hallows eve) is the even before one of the biggest, sweetest feast in our church:ALL SAINTS DAYS!! All Saints are rock-stars and people we should spend more time learning about and imitate/learn from their lives but check out this tid bit I found from life teen about what Halloween/All Saints day is all about...the martyrs of the church! Now those are some hard core folks...

"Before Christianity came to Europe, the eve of November 1st was a common day of celebration for many Celtic tribes living in modern-day Great Britain. In preparation for the beginning of winter, the people of the land would ring in the new year by celebrating the souls of the dead. They believed that all those who had died, including evil spirits, would come out on this night. To scare these spirits away they would dress in disguise, wearing masks. Over the years, new traditions were added. More decorations and the incorporation of common foods we see today on Halloween (apples and cider) became common. However, Halloween did not technically adopt its Catholic ties until 835 when Pope Gregory IV moved the celebration honoring all martyrs of the Church from May 13th to November 1st. Many of these martyrs are also saints. This holy day eventually became known as All Saints Day. All Saints Day is still observed on November 1st, followed by All Souls Day on November 2nd. The attire of participants on All Hallows Eve started to change as well. No longer did people dress to scare away evil spirits, but instead dressed up as saints to honor those who had died for their faith."

...So while you are getting all strung out on sugar this weekend and while you are getting that costume ready, remember where it all started and take a minute to remember those people who have given their lives for our Faith. Now THEY are people to dress up as for Halloween!

Happy All Saints Day!!

All You Holy Men and Women, Pray for us!

Halloween Extravaganza!!

St. Andrew's Youth Group Presents:


A Night of Halloween Fun For All!!!

Who doesn't love to dress up in crazy costumes and have a good time?!

Costume Contest!
Games!
Prizes!
Goodie Bags!
Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin may make an appearance...You never know!

Bring a friend AND bring a bag of your favorite halloween candy to share!!!

**All costumes must be tasteful. Nothing negative or scary...have fun with it! The crazier the better!!**

EPIC MUSIC FEST!

The Next BIG thing:

October 16th: Epic Music Fest/Youth Rally!

St. Joseph's in Pomfret, MD is hosting an epic day of music,

rock-climbing, games, mass, concerts...you name it...they have it!

It is going to be a great day to get together with youth from all over

and just have a blast!

The cost is $10 for the entire day. You should bring extra money for

food that will be sold at the vendors throughout the day.

We will meet at St. Andrew's at NOON and plan on returning around 7:30pm

Permission Slips and payments for this events are due by October 3rd!

Contact Joanna for a permission slip or more info!

Grab a friend and come on out! You don't want to miss this!