What does living liturgically look like, practically speaking? This Advent season, for example, we will make an Advent wreath to be placed in the middle of our dining table, weekly lighting the candles of hope, peace, joy (the sole pink candle and my daughter’s favorite), and love, followed by the central white Christ candle on Christmas Eve. We’ll open tiny scrolls of paper tucked into our Advent calendar each day and follow their instructions: to observe an old church tradition, read scripture, or engage in a simple act of service or kindness. We’ll set up our nativity scene and try to add only one character or animal at a time as we anticipate Emmanuel. We’ll move our wise men around the house as they make their way to baby Jesus. All the pieces will end up in different rooms and not at all where they are supposed to be, and that will be OK!

Celebrating Advent with your children is a good place to start forging meaningful memories that will form their faith.