Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit.
~ Rick Warren
We are now in the season of Advent, a time that is focussed on waiting
with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, we
relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in
our own heart everyday. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be
fulfilled on earth. Over the these four
weeks the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this
time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.
In addition to the weekly resources have a look at the special
Advent page for some ideas and resources
on how to celebrate the season well in your home.
Family
Closeness
Game:
Pass
the Parcel
This old game still get played at parties but could
be a fun game to play at home around the table. It would also be a great way to
unveil a gift for your family. Put something nice in the middle for the whole
family – like a family move pass or a note saying you are all going to your
favourite restaurant. Wrap it up. Now put multiple layers of wrapping on with
small prizes in between such as chocolate bars or sweets. Blind fold a family member. Their job is to
say when to stop passing the parcel. Pass the parcel and when it is stopped
someone gets to take off a layer. You might even like to play music or sing a
song while the parcel is passed around.
Sharing:
Questions for stimulating discussion in your family.
- What is the best gift you have ever received?
- What is the best gift you have ever given?
- What is the most precious gift in the world?
Story
With your family
read Matthew 1.18-25
(for a way of
explaining/talking about this reading with children look at
Questions for
Discussion:
- What was Joseph going to do when he found out Mary was pregnant?
- What changed his mind?
- What did the angel tell Joseph to name the baby?
Prayer
and Celebration
A prayer for
candle lighting during Advent:
O God,
as light comes
from this candle,
may the blessing
of Jesus Christ come to us,
warming our
hearts and
brightening our
way.
May Christ our
Savior bring life
into the
darkness of this world,
and to us, as we
wait for his coming.
Family
Time
Song
Stories
A great way to explore the story of Christmas would be to listen to some
Christmas Carols or hymns with your family. One option would be to listen and
sing together and just enjoy the music and your family. Alternatively, listen
very carefully to the words and to the feel of the song. Discuss what this
particular carol is saying about the birth of Jesus. Are there any words or
phrases that children don’t understand? Discuss what these might mean.
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