Life is full of meaningful moments that can be expected or totally unanticipated. Celebrating these milestone moments helps bring an awareness of God’s presence into the home and highlights the rituals of daily life experiences.

This Milestones Ministry Moment can be used to celebrate setting up the Christmas tree during the season of Advent. The custom of an indoor Christmas tree was introduced in Germany in the 16^th century. Legend tells us that the evergreen was chosen and decorated with candles to represent God’s creation and the gift of God’s Son as the Light of the World. This tradition is continued today as we use evergreen trees, strings of lights, and ornaments to decorate the tree in our homes as a faith formation ritual and tradition to be handed down from one generation to the next.

This Milestone Moment includes the Four Keys for practicing faith outline which encourages growing in our faith by recognizing the home as church, too. A simple five-step structure is also included to establish a solid base for faith formation.