Advent ideas

Advent Ideas

Advent begins the 4th Sunday before Christmas (December 2nd)

Focus:  Increasing anticipation as we approach the celebration of Jesus' birth.  

1. Advent Wreath - We will have an Advent wreath display at church.  In addition, each family with preschool children through 5th grade will have their own advent wreath to take home.   Here is a picture of the craft.  Included in your bag will be the green circle, red heart, 5 candles, pipe cleaners, red beads, and a plate.  These Advent Wreath kits will be available on Sunday, December 2nd.  

There are 4 green pipe cleaners and 12 red beads. As a family you can add beads to the green pipe cleaners and wrap around the green foam circle.  Some of the ends of the pipe cleaners are sharp.  The foam circle and heart already have spaces for the candles.  If you need to make the hole bigger for the candle to fit you can use a screwdriver.  The heart is to add in the center of the wreath for the white candle on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The white candle is lit to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. 

Each Sunday at church beginning on December 2nd there will be card stock candle ornaments hanging from a Christmas tree.  Following the service, each family is encouraged to take one ornament from the tree.  The ornament will give you the details for that specific week for the advent wreath.  The ornament will share what color candle to add to your wreath along with the symbolism and explanation for it. Each week during Advent new ornaments will be added to the tree. 

2.  Advent Chain - Use construction paper - red, green, and white if you want to be festive.  You will want to cut the paper into strips approximately 1"x6".  You will need to cut 24 strips of paper to make one chain.

On one side of the paper number the days beginning with December 1st and ending with December 24th.  On the other side you can include Bible verses to look up to help children understand Christmas, fun activities to be done such as decorating Christmas tree, make Christmas cake, writing messages to friends, etc. Connect all the pieces to make a chain.  Glue or staple ends of paper together to make a ring and connect with next ring and complete a chain.  Hang the chain and each day of December have your child rip off one ring and read the back and then complete activity listed. 

3. Service Idea - Check out the following blog to see how to make shepherds pouches - this is a great way to emphasize service to others.  Shepherds Pouches

4.  Excellent resource for your home is The Advent Jesse Tree:  Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas by Dean Lambert Smith.  This is available at the resource table at church.