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Ages 3-6
Ages 6-10
Ages 10-15
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December Hope
Hope is the December Focus of the PWRDF Family Calendar -- you can explore this important concern with your family at any time of the year.
Family Activity: Christmas Cookies in a Jar
Here is a recipe for family fun in a jar that you can assemble together. Keep one for yourself for when you want a family treat and make a few to give away. Include fair trade ingredients if you can. More about fair trade ingredients...
Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate-covered candy (holiday M+M's or Smarties)
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup crisped-rice cereal (regular or cocoa flavor)
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
In a 1-quart widemouthed jar, add the ingredients in the order listed. Pack them down firmly after each addition (use the blunt end of a wooden spoon to level and tamp down each layer). Screw on the cover and prepare a gift tag with instructions
Tag:
"To make your holiday cookies, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 egg in a large bowl. Add the contents of the jar and stir until well blended. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 4 dozen. Enjoy this gift from our kitchen."
Activity for ages 3-6: Stars of Hope
By the light of a star, people were led to the birthplace of a Jesus and the star remains a sign of hope for Christians. Make this Window Star with your little ones and talk about how to keep the true light of Christmas shining bright. Supporting PWRDF at this time of year is one way for families to stay focused. When you make a donation in someone's name, send them a Window Star made by your child and tell them why you are doing it.
Materials
Black contruction paper, pencil; scissors; wax paper, small pieces of different coloured tissue paper; Modge podge glue, paintbrush.
Directions
1. Print out the star template -- or draw your own.
2. Cut it out from the middle - carefully so you don't cut into the frame.
3. Cut a star out of wax paper.
4. Using small pieces of tissue cover the wax paper star with a light layer of glue. Spread glue all over one side of the frame and press wax paper tissue paper over it so that it covers the whole square included the star-shaped hole.
4. When it's dry, turn it over and display in the window so that the light shines through it.
5. You could also try cutting out lots of smaller stars in one piece of paper with multiple colours of paper.
6. If you want to be really tricky, cut out two pieces of dark paper at the same time and add a mat to cover your tissue paper for a star that looks good from both sides!
7. You could make miniature pictures and insert them in cards to mail as Christmas gifts. Be sure to include a note about hope with it that expresses your child's wishes.
For example: "By the light of a star, people were led to see the baby Jesus. May this star remind you to keep the true light of Christmas shining bright. Our family has made a donation to the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund in your name".
Adapted from: The Under-Fives Activity Book, by Stella Maidment London:Red Fox,1992 ISBN 0 09 986530 0
Activity for ages 6-10: Stars for the Tree
Materials: Popsicle sticks, glue, glitter or salt, thread or ribbon 
Instructions:
1. Paint or color Popsicle sticks using markers.
2. Glue into Christmas star shape (see ideas below),
3. Decorate your Christmas star with glitter glue, or glue and glitter, or glue and salt for crystal effect.
4. Tie or glue a loop of thread or ribbon for the hanger for your Christmas ornament.
For a different look, use twigs or small pieces of wood rather than Popsicle sticks.
This Is My Faith Series
Find out all about the faiths of young people around the world. Each book in the This is My Faith Series explores a different world faith through the eyes of a child. In his or her own words, each child speaks about their beliefs, their families, everyday life and the rituals and traditions that are important to them and the festivals and special days they celebrate.
This is My Faith: Buddhism
This is My Faith: Christianity
This is My Faith: Hinduism
This is My Faith: Islam
This is My Faith: Judaism
This is My Faith: Sikhism
Available from Parent Books
Activity for ages 10-15: Hope in the World Candle Prayer
Before a family meal, or early one evening take some time to bring the cares of the world into your family prayers. If you have older children invite them to prepare and lead the prayers for the family.
Materials: PWRDF in the World Poster or placemat; large glass bowl, jug of water, tea lights, matches.
Write your own introduction, here's an example: In this holiday time, we are grateful for the time with our family and friends and for the ways our family celebrates the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Each family member can say their favorite family tradition... Tonight we also want to remember to pray for peace in the world and to be thankful for all the work our church does to make the world a better place. As we light these candles we will pray for the work of PWRDF and the people in these communities around the world.
Pour the water into the bowl.
Light a candle and float it in the bowl and name the following: Partners in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean; Survivors of Emergencies, Refugees, Indigenous Peoples in Canada and Around the World
Ask if anyone wants to add a candle for their own concern.
Write your own closing prayer, and choose a few of the interfaith prayers from below.
Christmas Trees
There is an Italian legend which says that on the night Jesus was born every living creature of the earth journeyed to Bethlehem to honor the baby. The trees in the forest picked up their roots and made their way thence: the olive, to give its fruit; the palm, its dates. But the fir tree had no gifts, and besides it was a small tree and so weary it could hardly stand. The larger trees pushed and shoved to get a glimpse of the babe, and the little fir leaned sadly against a wall, knowing it had no chance. An angel, we are told, felt sorry for the tiny tree, and looking to the stars, called them to come down and decorate its boughs. The angel made a gentle sound. Baby Jesus looked up, saw the shining tree, and gave his first infant smile. And so it came to pass, that the fir trees are always lighted at Christmas, for it is right that the holy child in each one of us should know beauty and be pleased.
Interfaith Prayers for Peace
A Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Oh Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Islamic Peace Prayer
We think of Thee, worship Thee, bow to Thee as the Creator of this Universe; we seek refuge in Thee, the Truth, our only support. Thou art the Ruler, the barge in this ocean of endless births and deaths. In the name of Allah, the beneficient, the merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations. Give us wisdom that we may know each other and not despise all things. We shall abide by thy Peace. And, we shall remember the servants of God are those who walk on this earth in humility and, when we address them, we shall say Peace Unto Us All.
Jewish Peace Prayer
Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, that we may walk the paths of the Most High. And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation - neither shall they learn war any more. And none shall be afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
A Buddhist Prayer
Evoking the presence of the great compassion, let us fill our hearts with our own compassion - towards ourselves and towards all living beings. Let us pray that all living beings realise that they are all brothers and sisters, all nourished from the same source of life.
Native African Peace Prayer
Almighty God, the Great Thumb we cannot evade to tie any knot; the Roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees: the all-seeing Lord up on high who sees even the footprints of an antelope on a rock mass here on Earth. You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call. You are the cornerstone of peace.
Hindu Peace Prayer
I desire neither earthly kingdom, nor even freedom from birth and death. I desire only the deliverance from grief of all those afflicted by misery. Oh Lord, lead us from the unreal to the real; from darkness to light; from death to immortality. May there be peace in celestial regions. May there be peace on earth. May the waters be appeasing. May herbs be wholesome and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficient beings bring peace to us. May thy wisdom spread peace all through the world. May all things be a source of peace to all and to me. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti (Peace, Peace, Peace).
Native American Peace Prayer
Oh Great Spirit of our Ancestors, I raise my pipe to you. To your messengers the four winds, and to Mother Earth who provides for your children. Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace of mind Let us learn to share all good things that you provide for us on this Earth.
Jainist Peace Prayer
Peace and Universal Love is the essence of the Gospel preached by all Enlightened Ones. The Lord has preached that equanimity is the Dharma Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures forgive me. Unto all have I amity, and unto none enmity. Know that violence is the root cause of all miseries in the world. Violence, in fact, is the knot of bondage. "Do not injure any living being." This is the eternal, perrinial, and unalterable way of spiritual life. A weapon, howsoever powerful it may be, can always be superseded by a superior one; but no weapon can, however, be superior to non-violence and love.
Celtic Peace Prayer
Deep Peace of the running wave to you
Deep Peace of the flowing air to you
Deep Peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep Peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the shades of night to you
Moon and stars always giving Light to you.
Give me a heart...
Lord Jesus,
While I sail on
Over the troubled waters of my life,
Give me the contentment of knowing
That I have, as a compass,
A heart that will bring me to love's harbour.
Give me a HEART OF POVERTY,
Able to love and open up and give myself to others.
Give me a HEART OF PATIENCE,
Able to love and live in hope.
Give me a HEART OF PEACEFULNESS,
Able to love and sow peace in the world.
Give me a HEART OF JUSTICE,
Able to love and measure myself by the standard of justice.
Give me a HEART OF MERCIFULNESS,
Able to love and understand and forgive others.
Give me a HEART OF SENSITIVITY,
Able to love and weep without being discouraged.
Give me a HEART OF PURITY,
Able to love and see God in everyone.
Give me a HEART OF STRENGTH,
Able to love and be faithful unto death.
Give me a HEART TOUCHED BY THE GOSPEL,
Able to love.
(World Council of Churches)
