Celebrating Advent and Christmas (family and church school activities)

Are you ready to celebrate Christmas? Use this Advent guide to celebrate the meaning of Christmas with your family.

Think About It: Have you ever waited for something to happen? What did you wait for? How did you feel while you were waiting? What did you do while you were waiting?

Listen To It: Jesus said: “Strange things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. The nations on earth will be afraid of the roaring sea and tides, and they won’t know what to do. People will be so frightened that they will faint because of what is happening to the world. Every power in the sky will be shaken. Then the Son of Man will be seen, coming in a cloud with great power and glory. When all of this starts happening, stand up straight and be brave. You will soon be set free.” (Luke 21:25-28)

Talk About It: Have you ever heard people trying to predict when the world will end or trying to predict when Jesus will come again? What are your thoughts when you hear these kinds of conversations? Do Jesus’ words frighten you or give you hope? Explain.

Learn From It: In Jesus’ time, just like today, there were people who were anxious to know when the world would end. But Jesus does not want us to be concerned about such matters since only God knows. Rather Jesus wants us to prepare our hearts so that we are always ready to receive him. When Jesus was born, no one expected the Messiah to come as a baby. But God often surprises us in wonderful ways! In the coming days, as you begin to get ready for Christmas, be open to God’s surprises in your life and prepare your heart so that you will be ready to welcome the Savior.

Pray About It: Lord Jesus, help me to wait for you. Prepare my heart to receive you. My hope is in you. In your holy and precious name I pray. Amen.

Getting Ready for Christmas

The following activities are designed to help you prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Advent “Chain of Stars”

(By participating in this activity throughout the four weeks in Advent, you will have a chain of 28 stars that can be used as a Christmas garland.)

Supplies needed: Bible; 5-point star pattern (about 3” wide); yellow construction paper; scissor; pencils/pens; marker; hole puncher; yarn, narrow ribbon, or string.

The four Sundays in Advent are the Sundays of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each week, trace and cut out seven stars; on the appropriate number of stars, write the letters

H O P E

(for week 1);

P E A C E

(for week 2);

J O Y

(for week 3), and

L O V E

(for week 4); leave the remaining stars blank.

Punch holes at the top and bottom of each star. Each day, throughout the week, a star will be added to the chain and will be linked with yarn, ribbon, or string. Begin with two “blank” stars and save the remaining blank stars each week to be used at the end of each word. Incorporate the Advent “Chain of Stars” into your family devotions. Read the Scripture passage indicated for each day of the week, and then add a star to the chain. On the back of each star, write the Scripture citation. Conclude with a prayer and invite everyone to respond at the end, “AMEN! COME LORD JESUS!” (If you are using an Advent Wreath during family devotional time, light the candle(s) prior to the Scripture reading for the day.)

“A Child Is Born” Christmas Banner

Supplies needed: Bible; 9” x 13” piece of solid color fabric (felt or burlap); felt scraps in a variety of colors; paste or glue; scissors; stapler; wooden dowel (12” long, ¼” wide); yarn or string; sheet of drawing paper; pencil or pen.

Sketch a simple design pertaining to the birth of Jesus on a sheet of drawing paper and then prepare patterns for each component of the design. Cut out the design from scraps of felt and glue the design onto the solid piece of fabric. Fold down the top 2” of the fabric and secure with staples. Leave a loop large enough to slide the dowel through. Attach yarn or string to each end of the dowel to make a wall hanging. Display the banner where you gather for family devotions throughout the Christmas season.

Conclude your devotions by reading together Isaiah 9:2-7 and singing some of your favorite Christmas carols.

“Joy to the World” Devotional Cards

Supplies needed: Bible; 3” x 5” index cards; pens or pencils; drawing paper and crayons for younger children; large basket or bowl.

Gather members of your household in a circle and read together Psalm 98. Read it “crescendo” style with one person starting off by reading verse 1, another person joining in at verse 2, another at verse 3, and so on. The effect will be one of increasing volume as the psalm is read until all voices are reading together. At the conclusion of the reading, discuss the various ways joy is expressed in this psalm.

Distribute nine index cards and invite members of your household to copy each of the nine verses of the psalm onto one of the cards. Encourage younger children to draw pictures to illustrate various verses in the psalm. Place all the cards and pictures in a basket or bowl. During family devotions throughout the week, select one or two cards and/or one or two drawings and encourage everyone to share their thoughts about how the Scripture passage speaks to them and how the Word “that became a human being” brings joy to their lives. Conclude each devotional session by singing “Joy to the World” or one of your favorite Christmas carols.

“Tidings of Comfort and Joy” Greeting Cards

Supplies needed: Bible; construction paper; old Christmas cards; scissors; glue or paste; stickers and/or glitter (optional); pens; crayons.

Fold a sheet of 8-1/2” x 11” construction paper in half. Cut out a picture from an old Christmas card and affix it to the front. Decorate the cover with stickers and/or glitter if desired. (Young children may wish to draw a picture on the cover instead.) On the inside write: “Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” “Our God Reigns,” “Our God is Here,” “With love and peace to you at Christmas.” Also copy John 1:14 somewhere on the card. Encourage members of your household to make as many cards as possible and then deliver them to a local hospital or nursing home. Sing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and some of your favorite Christmas carols while making the cards. Conclude this activity by reading together Psalm 96. Invite everyone to respond together at the end, “OUR GOD REIGNS!”

The Christmas Story

Supplies needed: Bible

On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, gather members of your household together and read the story of Jesus’ birth as recorded in Luke’s Gospel (2:1-20). Consider reading the text dramatically: assign one person to be the narrator, another to read the angel’s message, others to read the song of the angel choir, and others to read the response of the shepherds. If you have been creating the “Chain of Stars” throughout the season of Advent, add the star for Christmas Eve, and display the garland as a Christmas decoration in your home. If you have been using an Advent Wreath during family devotional time, light all four candles plus a fifth candle (white), the Christ Candle, and conclude by singing “Silent Night, Holy Night” or one of your favorite Christmas carols. (If you do not have an Advent Wreath, consider lighting a white candle as you gather for family devotions.)

“Christmas Litany”

Supplies needed: Bible.

Ask a member of your family to read John 1:1-14 as a litany prayer, with the rest of the family members responding together, “AMEN! JESUS OUR TRUE LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD” at the end of verses 2, 4, 8, 10, 13, 14. Conclude your devotion time by singing together “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!” or one of your favorite Christmas carols.