New Year's Time Capsule Activity!!

Hard to believe we are getting ready to move into 2016!  A suggestion that I am going to try at home this year with my family is to create a Time Capsule.  There are many suggestions online for fill in the blank sheets for children and for suggestions of creating a time capsule. We will each fill out a sheet on December 31st and place in a shoe box that we will then duct  tape.  My kids LOVE duct tape!!!!  We will keep the box sealed until sealed until December 31st, 2016.  

Such a busy time of year but I think it's worth taking the time to each jot down some highlights from 2015. Below are some suggestions of printable sheets you could use to have children complete themselves or for younger children to record their responses.

Time Capsule Printable Fill in the Blank Sheet

Time Capsule Printable Sheet Suggestion

Time for New Year's Resolutions - I enjoyed this spin on some uncommon goals:

Three Uncommon Goals

Slugs and Bugs: Shepherd Dad

Here is a good video to show your kids!

Slugs and Bugs: Shepherd Dad

Advent

A couple Advent Videos to share together with your family:

Advent Conspiracy

&

The Digital Story of the Nativity

ADVENT IDEAS

 Advent Begins:  Sunday November 29, 2015 & Ends:  Thursday December 24, 2015

#1  Advent Wreath:  One of the ways GCPC will celebrate Advent this year is with an Advent wreath.  There are candles lit during the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas.  The first is the prophecy candle or the candle of hope; the second is the Bethlehem candle or candle of preparation; the third is the Shepherd candle or the candle of joy, the fourth is the love candle or the candle of peace; and the center white candle is the Christ candle, lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day symbolizing the birth of Jesus.  See additional handout included further explaining each candle during Advent Season.

Suggested Resource to supplement the Advent Wreath 

(Available for $7 on the Resource Table):

·      Prepare Him Room – Celebrating the birth of Jesus – Family Devotional  by Marty Machowski

#2  Jesse Tree:  In addition to the Advent wreath another way to prepare for Christmas is using the Jesse Tree devotional.  The Jesse Tree will encourage us as we look through scriptures from the Old Testament creation through Jesus’ birth.  The tree is named Jesse (King David’s father) a key figure in the genealogy of Jesus.

Suggested Resources

·      The Advent Jesse Tree:  Devotions for Children and Adults to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas by Dean Meador Lambert. ($10 - Grace Kids Resource Table)

·      Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Reading Plan:  Reading Plan bookmarks will be available on the Grace Kids Table.

·     

Mark your calendars: Tubing Event & Slugs and Bugs Concert!!

ANYONE WANT TO GO TUBING?
The Grace Kids Team is planning a Wintergreen Tubing Trip on Friday, January 29th.  This is a half day for Henrico and Hanover County Schools.  Details about the trip can be found here Wintergreen Tubing Fun!  
If you are interested in going please sign up for planning purposes by January 3rd. 


********************************************************

Slugs and Bugs:  slugsandbugs.com

You can check out a video here:  "God Made Me" Video - Slugs and Bugs

Concert Details: 

Friday, February 26th, 6:30pm

West End Presbyterian Church

9008 Quioccasin Rd,

Tickets $5 each, or $20/family (Tickets will go on sale in January)

Slugs & Bugs LIVE is an unforgettable concert for families. Specifically, it is a joyful, gospel-filled, life celebrating, interactive musical experience featuring animated videos, energetic vocals, and tasty piano, guitar and mandolin solos!