Liturgical Teas

September 8 ~ The Birth of Mary

Teatime fare:

• Gluten-free mini cupcakes with blue frosting
• Blueberry smoothies

Activities:

• Sing Sing of Mary (Gretchen Harris CD, track 8)
• Pray a decade of the rosary
• Play Marian bingo (I made this game for Tulip’s 3rd birthday- a Marian theme)

October 1 ~ St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Teatime fare:

• Gluten-free crepes
• Rosy lemonade (pink lemonade)

Activities:

• Read about St. Therese from Catholic Treasure Box books 1-6
• Coloring page (by Charlotte)
• Make sacrifice beads to count presents for Jesus

November 22 ~ Christ the King

Teatime fare:

• Gluten-free cupcake crowns like those pictured here
• Royal punch (purple juice)

Activities:

• Color and cut out this stand-up Christ the King 

December 8 ~ The Immaculate Conception

Teatime fare:

• Gluten-free blueberry muffins, dusted with white powdered sugar (purity)
• White hot chocolate

Activities:

• Read Take it the the Queen by Josephine Nobisso
• Sing Immaculate Mary (Gretchen Harris CD, track 7)
• Make a wooden rosary holder (let the children choose one from Illuminated Ink)
• Coloring page (by Charlotte)

December 12 ~ Our Lady of Guadalupe

Teatime fare:

• Mexican hot chocolate

Activities:

• Read The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie dePaola
• Bless one another with holy water while saying: May God be as good to you as He was to Juan Diego.
• Act out the story of Juan Diego.
• Coloring page (by Charlotte)

January 1 ~ Mary, Mother of God

Teatime fare:

• Blueberry smoothies
• Gluten-free cookies (any kind)

Activities:

• Using popsicle sticks, make a grotto, similar to this. Let the children choose a favorite image of Mary to place inside.
• Sing Hail, Holy Queen (Gretchen Harris CD, track 10)

February 2 ~ Candlemas, the Presentation of the Lord

Teatime fare:

• Gluten-free pretzels (to represent Simeon’s arms folded in prayer), dipped in white chocolate (purity)
• Juice

Activities:

• Read Luke 2:22-40
• Beeswax candle dipping

March 17 ~ St. Patrick

Teatime fare:

• Shamrock shaped gluten-free sandwiches
• Gluten-free cookies with green frosting/sprinkles
• Green juice

Activities:

• Read Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola
• Sing the traditional Irish blessing
• Search for shamrocks (planted/placed throughout the yard)
• Search for bags of chocolate gold
• Wear green

March ~ Solemnity of the Annunciation

Teatime fare:

• Gluten-free waffles with jam

Activities:

• Read Angel in the Waters by Regina Doman
• Pray the Angelus
• Sing Be It Done Unto Me (Gretchen Harris CD, track 1)

April ~ Easter

Teatime fare:

• Cross shaped gluten-free cookies with white frosting/sprinkles

Activities:

• Each child chooses his or her favorite Easter book to be read aloud
• Make a stained glass cross (for the window)
• Dig up the Alleluia (buried on Ash Wednesday)

May ~ Ascension of the Lord

Teatime fare:

• Ascension Day gluten-free pancakes
• Bubbly drinks (fizzy pop or punch)

Activities:

• Read Acts 1: 1-10 and Luke 24:50-53
• Climb to the top of a hill and blow bubbles

May ~ Pentecost

Teatime fare:

• Holy Spirit crackers (make a gluten-free version similar to the one described here)
• Red tortilla chips served with mild salsa
• Flames of Pentecost gluten-free cupcakes (like this)

Activities:

• Read The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost from Tomie dePaola’s Book of Bible Stories
• Draw illustrated narrations of the story
• Wear red

May ~ Feast of the Visitation of Mary

Teatime fare:

• Sugared violets
• Gluten-free cookies

Activities:

• Make a spiritual bouqet for someone, and deliver it
• Sing Hail Mary, Gentle Woman (Gretchen Harris CD, track 10)

June ~ Midsummer’s Day, the Birth of John the Baptist

Teatime fare:

• Grasshopper Pie (made with gluten-free ingredients)

Activities:

• Make a bonfire
• Read Jesus is Baptized from Tomie dePaola’s Book of Bible Stories
• Sing Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

August ~ Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Teatime fare:

• Blueberry crisp with puffy whip cream clouds

Activities:

• Make a marian wind sock (using oatmeal containers, an image of Mary, and streamers)
• Sing Mother Mary (Gretchen Harris CD, track 9)