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December 3, 2025Family Corner December 2025
Reclaiming Sundays
Theme: Music and Prayer
O Come, O Come Emmanuel! Here at the beginning of Advent, we sing with longing. We call out to our Savior—be with us! We also begin hear the glorious carols of celebration-- Joy to the World! For many of us, the music of Advent and Christmas is the most beloved of all!
We sing our favorite hymns and carols by heart. We find a commonality among other Christians and neighbors who know the same dear lyrics. The music of this season gives us powerful ways to pray, to connect with our families, and to celebrate within our communities.
Through the Reclaiming Sundays guide, we are invited to pray with music in a number of ways.See the guide and watch the December video. Here at Nativity and in our neighborhood, we also have many ways to enhance these suggestions. Below are the SAMPLE ACTIVITIES FOR DECEMBER from the Reclaiming Sundays Guide, each followed by a specific way we can enhance our Sunday joy here in our own parish.
• Share the gift of music together. If you can play instruments, great! Warble at the old piano. Ask a Nativity school child to sing a Christmas song they are learning in class. Pop a favorite holiday CD into the car’s player as you run errands. Play Christmas music through the house as everyone gets ready for Mass!
• Make a playlist of favorite hymns or find a playlist of Advent music. Include our own talented liturgical musicians: Spiritu's Advent and Christmas album, “Emmanuel,” is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, along with seasonal singles “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.” Links are at spiritumusic.com. Physical CDs also are still available; email [email protected].
• Does your parish, school, or neighborhood have some sort of musical program this month? Attend as a family. A couple suggestions:1. The Saint Paul Seminary Schola and Chapel Choir present Lessons and Carols on December 13, 4-7 PM. Free and open to the Public. More info here.2. The Singers perform their Christmas concert in our own beautiful church on Sunday, December 14 at 2 PM. Tickets, for $38 each, are available here.
• Pray with an Advent Wreath. Bring the worship aid home from mass and sing again a favorite hymn as you light the advent wreath.
Take a moment to watch the December video for more inspiration. And then, just sing!