A Change in Posting for Advent Family Devotional

I must apologized,  I realized tonight that because "Celebrating Advent: A-Z Family Guide" was written for the Advent season of 2007, there will be a gap of a few days.  Christmas Day is "X", and backing the devotionals up "A" begins on December 2.  Being I've posted "A" and "B" already, I'll post C (Sunday) on Friday along with the Advent Wreath Lighting Liturgy reading for the 2nd week of Advent. 

Thank you Holly for pointing out the discrepancy, and thank you all for your patience. 

Blessings
Sarah

B is for Bethlehem

B is for Bethlehem...

the little village of Jesus’ birth.

Micah 5:2

But you, O Bethlehem, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.  Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.

 

Blessings 

Sarah

A is for ANGELS

The Annunciation by Fra Angelico (1432)

A is for Angels...announcing to Mary and then to Joseph that Jesus was to be born.

Luke 1:26, 30-31

God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl named Mary who lived in Nazareth.  ...But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

Matthew 1:20-21

…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Blessings
Sarah

Advent Wreath Lighting Liturgy for First Sunday of Advent

Below is the reading for the Advent wreath lighting that David and I have used on the First Sunday of Advent.  It's wonderful to have family members take turns reading a different portions of the liturgy as you light your personal Advent wreath.

Traditionally, the reading and lighting is done at meal time on each Sunday of Advent.  During the week I always like to light the candles at mealtime as well....I like candlelight. 

May your journey through Advent this year be filled with peace, love, joy and a palpable presence of our Lord and Savior.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Reader 1

Today is the beginning of Advent—a time of preparation for celebrating Christ’s birth. 

The Advent wreath is made of a circle of evergreens with four candles around the perimeter and one in the center. The round shape is a symbol of eternal life, and the endless nature of God’s love for His people.  The evergreen symbolizes the continuation of life, as it remains green through the winter.  The four colored candles stand for the four Sundays of Advent.  The fifth candle, also called the Christ candle, is white and is placed in the center of the wreath.

Reader 2

Today is the Sunday in which we recall the prophets of Israel, who spoke of a savior, a king in the line of David who would rule the world wisely and bless all nations.

Isaiah 7: 14 says:

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Reader 3

The first candle is the candle of hope.  It is sometimes called the prophet candle to remind us that, just as Jesus first came into the world humbly in a manger at Bethlehem, so he will come again in power to deliver his people.

Light the First Candle – (the prophet candle or candle of hope) – at 9 o’clock on the wreath.

Prayer together...

Loving God, we thank you for the hope you give us in your Son, Jesus Christ.  Send your Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts for the promise of His coming, that we may become a beacon of hope for others throughout world.  Amen.

Blessings
Sarah

Celebrating Advent Supply Lists for Weeks 1 & 2

Below are the supply lists for each week of Advent to help you plan. 

WEEK ONE

Craft Store

Scissors

White tissue paper

Yellow yarn

2” Styrofoam ball

Gold foil

Tape

Glue

Brush for glue

Gold stars

Toilet paper tube

Fluted coffee filter

Wide-mouth jar

Mod Podge

Tissue paper (various colors)

Sand

Votive candle

Blank note cards

Crayons or markers

Blank sketch book

Grocery Store

Waxed paper

12 oz package of chocolate chips

½ c. peanut butter

2 c. pretzel sticks or Chinese noodles

1 ½ c. peanuts (optional)

6 oz. package of chocolate chips

2 T. butter

1 c. powdered sugar

Peppermint extract

Green food coloring

4 t. milk

Miscellaneous

Nativity set (A)

World map or globe (B)

Internet (B)

Extra Christmas stocking (G)

WEEK TWO

Craft Store

Long sheets of paper

(construction, tissue or wrapping paper)

Scissors

Pencil

Markers

Tape

Glue

Bible

Construction paper (red, white and green)

Masking tape

Grocery Store

1-2 pint size milk carton

Regular marshmallows

Mini marshmallows

Pretzel sticks

Toothpicks

Paper plates

Raisins

Graham crackers

White icing

Small candies

Animal Crackers

Miscellaneous

Nativity set & Bible (I)

Crowns (K)

Christmas cards received in mail (L)

Baby name book or internet (N)

Supplies for Birthday Party for Jesus

Advent Count Down Ideas

A few ideas to mark the season.  How does your family mark the days leading to Christmas?

COUNTDOWN SCRIPTURE CHAIN

Supplies: various colors of construction paper; scissors; stapler or tape; markers

Pre cut a large star and 24 strips of paper.  Print “Jesus Is Born!” on the front of the star.  Link the strips of paper together to form a chain, and attach the chain to the star.  Tear off a strip each day in December until Christmas.

For older kids, have them write a scripture verse on each strip of paper prior to forming the chain.  They can choose their own or use the ones in this book.     

ADVENT WREATH

Supplies: Advent wreath ring; artificial garland and/or holly; floral wire; 3 purple candles; 1 pink candle; 1 large white candle; decorations (any ribbon, artificial fruit, pine cones or ornaments); and a hot glue gun if necessary.

Cut garland apart into smaller more manageable pieces.  Using floral wire, attached each piece of artificial garland on to the ring.  When the ring has a desired fullness, attach whatever decorations you desire.  If you are a music loving family, attach the musical instrument ornaments found at your local craft store.  Personalize it!     

  

You can purchase the candles, ring or entire Advent wreath kit online at www.wilsonevergreens.net.



Blessings
Sarah

Celebrating Advent: A-Z Family Guide

Since I was a little girl, Advent has been a special time of year for me, primarily because my parents made this season of waiting and preparation for Christmas so special and memorable.  In 2007, when I was a Director of Children’s Ministry at Trinity Church (Greenwich, CT), I created an Advent book for families.  As we begin Advent tomorrow, I’d thought I share this book (page by page) with you through my blog as we journey through this Advent season.

The busy world of parenting (carpooling, homework, sporting events, dance lessons, etc.) leaves little time for researching Advent activities especially in the midst of the holiday season.  If you are looking for ways to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ways that would be creative and meaningful for the entire family, I pray Celebrating Advent: A-Z Family Guide will help you during this Advent season.  

In this book, the Nativity story and prayer frame each day.  These are accompanied by creative crafts, fun activities, and movie ideas to illustrate a theme, along with discussion points for parents to engage their children each day of Advent.  As an avid reader, I have also suggested storybooks to read out loud to children.  Stories, particularly the Nativity story, help to open the window of imagination for children, as well as adults.  I have made an effort to include ideas for most age groups and learning styles.  You may need to adjust them to your child’s needs and abilities.  

Each day has a theme that corresponds to a letter in the alphabet.  Every letter is coupled with a scripture verse, and you'll find activities to choose from to help reinforce the theme of the day.  There is a different symbol to denote each approach to supporting the daily theme.

As you look at each day, you may think, “How can I do all this?”  The last thing I want is to make anyone feel guilty for not “doing it all.”  Browse through each post and choose one or two activities a week to do as a family, along with the scripture reading, prayer and discussion point each day.  If you have small children, reading the letter of the day and looking at the picture may be all that is appropriate.

In the next couple days, the upcoming posts will include the following:

• Advent Countdown Ideas (Advent Wreath & Scripture Chain)
• Supply List for Week 1
• Reading for Wreath Lighting on 1st Sunday of Advent
• A is for Angels: First Sunday in Advent
• B is for Bethlehem: First Monday of Advent
• C is for Candle: First Tuesday of Advent
• D is for Donkey: First Wednesday of Advent
• E is for Eastern Star: First Thursday of Advent
• F is for Family: First Friday of Advent
• G is for God: First Saturday of Advent

It is my prayer that this will give you and your family great joy, lasting memories, deeper meaning, and a place to start the journey of Advent together year after year.  As you use this tool, I look forward to your comments and invite you to post your creative ideas for the theme of each day.

Blessings

Sarah