Table of Contents Content or Topic PAGE Guidelines: Preparing Children for Christmas ………………….…………. 1 Activities for Families—Preparing for Christmas ……..………………….. 3 1. Advent Family Banner 2. Share the Spirit of Giving • Week 1 – “Give Back to God’s Creation” • Week 2 – “Share with Senior Adults” • Week 3 – “Share with Friends/Neighbors” • Week 4 – “Share with Children” Family Worship to Prepare Children for Christmas ……………………… 5 1. Advent Season • First week in Advent (Four weeks before Christmas) • Second week in Advent (Three weeks before Christmas) • Third week in Advent (Two weeks before Christmas) • Fourth week in Advent (The week before Christmas) Advent Activities for Church Togetherings”…………………….………….. 1. Holly Days 2. Preschool and Children Christmas Party 9 Involving Children in Worship During the Advent Season …………… 12 1. The Advent Wreath 2. Advent Banners 3. The Advent Scripture Readings 4. Advent Prayers 5. Music for Advent 6. Advent Worship Bulletins 7. The Advent Scriptures Celebrate Christmas ………………………………………………..……………… 18 It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas ………………….…………… 19 Children’s Sermon for Advent Season ………………………….…..…...…….. 21 • First Sunday of Advent: Hope • Second Sunday of Advent: Peace • Third Sunday of Advent: Joy • Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love Guidelines: Preparing Children for Christmas By Janice Haywood Each year, children of all ages eagerly anticipate the arrival of December 25. Why? Largely, it is because the cultural and commercial aspects of the holiday season are marketed very effectively to children and the families who love them. From decorations to music, from toys to appliances, from food to fashion, children are prepared for weeks if not months prior to Christmas to “make their list and check it twice” before the “Great Gift Day” arrives. But how well are we preparing our children to celebrate our Savior’s birth, the true origin of Christmas? In order to prioritize our Christian heritage above the commercial holiday, we must intentionally emphasize with our children the joyful and holy aspects of the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Some traditions give the name “Advent” to the four weeks prior to Christmas. Others simply see it as “Preparing for Christmas.” Consider the following guidelines or principles when choosing activities or methods to prepare children for the holy Christmas: 1. Separate the religious or Biblical story from the commercial or secular one. Preschoolers and younger children, who are learning the difficult mental skill of distinguishing between fantasy and reality, need to have the Christmas reality shared without secular fantasy interference. When they see Santa Claus at church (or even pictures of him) or Santa Claus kneeling at the manger, they may find it difficult to distinguish between the two personalities--one fantasy and one real--although having similar characteristics. If Santa’s story is make-believe or fantasy, perhaps Jesus’ story is also?! Legends also are confusing to children who do not understand what is Biblical and therefore real and what is simply an imaginary story that teaches a lesson. Older children, who may have learned to distinguish between reality and fantasy, may not perceive the holiness or “special ness” of the Biblical Christmas if it is mixed with secular images and celebrations with equal emphasis. Songs about Santa, jingle bells, reindeer, and other imaginary Christmas characters might be fun to sing, but do not help children to remember the true meaning of Christmas. For these reasons, it is wise to omit secular Christmas symbols, concepts, and music from the church, and fill the classrooms and hallways with the Biblical or religious aspects of Christmas such as angels, manger scenes, stars, bells, carols, and shepherds. 2. Keep stories, objects, and activities literal and concrete rather than symbolic or abstract. Children are very literal thinkers until approximately age 12. They do not yet have the mental processes to understand symbolism used in some of the Chrismon symbols often hung on Christmas trees at church or in homes. For children, use literal Chrismon symbols such as angels, bells, mangers, crosses, or stars rather than symbolic ones such as crowns, butterflies, seashells, or fish that stand for the symbolic aspects of our faith. Likewise, the names of the candles in an advent wreath have many names. 1 For younger children, use the names of prophecy candle, shepherd’s candle, angel’s candle, and Bethlehem candle rather than those of hope, peace, joy, and love that are more symbolic although they might be used with older children. Explaining the symbolic meanings to children and having them repeat it to you does not mean that they understand the symbolism, only that they can memorize easily. In summary, choose stories and activities based on the vast and interesting aspects of the real Biblical account. Repetition, especially done in a variety of media or teaching methods gives emphasis to the real Christmas story and helps children to remember. All parents can verify that children enjoy hearing a well-told or well-read story repeated often! 3. Make the Christmas story sensory. Children learn through their five senses. Help them to experience Christmas and heighten their memory. Hearing the Christmas story is only one sensory experience. Consider letting them act out the story, smell hay in a stable, look at and discuss Biblical story pictures, read the story from the Bible or accurate Bible story book by the light of an oil lamp, construct a nativity scene from readily available items, make puppets and present a puppet show of the Christmas story, or even have a birthday party for Jesus in which they bring gifts for a mission project. The more senses that the children use, the more meaningful will be their experiences. 4. Plan activities and experiences that are developmentally appropriate for the age of the child. Younger children need activities that are shorter in length because of their shorter attention span. If you will use the general rule of one minute for every year of age, you will change activities every four minutes for a four-year-old child and every eight minutes for an eight-year-old child. Use a simple vocabulary appropriate for the age children you are addressing. Keep in mind the concrete thinking of children and choose activities that are literal, not symbolic. Consider the need of children to be active after having a “quiet” experience. Choose Christmas carols that the children like, can sing easily, and which have words and concepts they can understand. 5. Adjust the theology and terminology used in books and other resources to be consistent with your church’s beliefs and practices. When choosing devotions for families or litanies for worship that come from resources, consider what is acceptable to your congregation. Many good experiences suggested in a resource may use terminology that your church does not utilize. For example, if your church does not use the term “Advent” to mean the four weeks prior to Christmas, use the phrase “Preparing for Christmas” instead. There are many good ideas for activities that can be adjusted and still will be appropriate for your congregation. There are other ideas that are so different from your church’s beliefs and practices that it may not be appropriate at all, even with adjustments. The following activities for home and church can help your children and their families prepare for the celebration of our Savior’s birth. 2 Activities for Families—Preparing for Christmas By Gail Ledbetter 1. Advent Family Banner This advent idea involves a weekly family time together (one for each week of advent) in order to complete the family banner. Supplies needed: • 28" x 42" felt for the banner (Finished size 28” x 39” with 3" folded hem at top for dowel pocket) • Felt for the dividers, center circle, letters, and people cutouts • Craft glue • Dowel stick and yarn or ribbon for hanging the banner. Optional supplies: • Wooden round-head clothespins (in craft stores could be called doll pins), • Fabric/felt for clothes, yarn, and Velcro. Each week, family members would read about the different characters in the Christmas story. After reading the scripture passages together, all family members will make the characters to put on the banner in that section. Cutouts of the Bible characters would be glued into that section for each week of Advent. To make the banner reusable year after year, make clothespin or dollpin Bible characters that would be Mary & Joseph Shepherds “dressed”, then attached to the banner using Velcro. Dollpin characters could Week 1 cutout Week 2 cutout be “dressed” with fabric/felt clothes, figures here figures here yarn hair, etc. Week 1 would be Mary and Joseph • Matt 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7; Matt 2:13-15 TITLE HERE Week 2 would be the Shepherds • Baby Jesus figure here Luke 2:18-20 Week 3 would be the Wise Men • Matt 2:1-12 Week 4 would be the Angels • Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:8-15; Matt 2:13-15 Week 4 cutout figures here Angels Christmas Eve/Day would be Baby Jesus • Luke 2:1-20 3 Week 3 cutout figures here WiseMen 2. Share the Spirit of Giving Christmas is the time that we remember the giving of the ultimate gift.... the gift of God's Son, Jesus to a sinful world. Since most children focus on the receiving of gifts at this time of year, simple ministry action projects can teach important lessons about sharing and giving. While donating money or a purchased item to a project is appreciated, the giving of time and yourself can teach more important lessons. Jesus didn't send money....He gave Himself for us. Week 1 - "Give Back to God's Creation" Provide homemade goodies to the birds at this time of year. String popcorn (if the popcorn is a day old it will be easier to string) on thread and hang on a bush or tree that can be seen from a window. Pinecones spread with peanut butter, then rolled in birdseed, can be hung on trees to provide needed fat for warmth. The skin of orange halves can be used for little cups, then filled with peanut butter/seed mixture, and then hung in trees or bushes. Week 2 - "Share with Senior Adults" Bake cookies (the "cut and bake” kind are just as much fun when baked together, if time is a factor). Package them in airtight bags, then in paper bags that have been decorated by the children--include a bow or ribbon. Deliver them to senior adults in your church or neighborhood. If you are taking them to a nursing facility, be sure to get permission to distribute, since some patients have diet restrictions. Week 3 - "Share with Friends/Neighbors" The holiday season can be a great time to meet and welcome new neighbors who may be away from family, as well as share with special friends and neighbors. As a family, bake cookies (as in week 2) or bake loaves of bread to share. The bread can be a family favorite recipe or a quick bread mix, since it's the gift of sharing not necessarily the bread that's most important. Be sure to involve children in the "making" process. Children can make cards to go along with the gift, as well as help decorate the bread with ribbon, etc. As a family deliver the bread to your friends/neighbors. A prearranged time may make the delivery an easier process. Week 4 - "Share with Children" The media portrays Christmas as a time when children receive what they wish for. We can teach important lessons when we help children realize that there are some children who are less fortunate at Christmastime and throughout the year. Find a ministry in your city, which receives, used toys in good condition. Help your child go through their toys and make choices to give away something and share with others. It can be a rewarding process, especially if some hard choices are made. Another way to share with children may be to start a "sock and mitten tree" at church or in the children's Sunday School division, where others can hang new pairs of mittens and socks. While this means buying something, money can be earned by doing special jobs around the house (different from their regular family chores). After the money has been earned, give it to the child and take them and let them purchase the socks or mittens. This process will help children "give" of themselves in order to share with others. 4 Family Worship to Prepare Children for Christmas By Sandra Canipe Advent Season These suggestions for five family worship times during Advent use the Advent wreath. Advent, the period including the four Sundays just before Christmas, is the first season of the church year. During 1998, there were twenty-six days in Advent: November 29 through December 24. The word “Advent” derives from the Latin ad venire, meaning “to come.” During these twenty-six days, anticipation and excitement are high as children look forward to Christmas. This excitement makes the season of Advent all the more important as a teachable time, a time when children need adults to help them shape their attitudes and understandings of the increased activity of these days, to help them focus on things of the spirit amid the glitz of commercialism that so permeates the month of December. A commitment to family worship during Advent gives the entire family opportunity to focus on God and the meaning of the incarnation: God with us, molding, shaping, and changing us in ways that please God. First week in Advent (four weeks before Christmas) Pray: Advent is here, Dear God, the time of waiting for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Be with us, please, as we wait together. Help us use these days of waiting to grow closer to you and to each other. Amen. Talk: Talk with each other about things we wait for every day: the school bus to come, bread to rise, seeds to sprout, a broken bone to mend, getting to the front of a long line, a birthday to come, cookies to finish baking, etc. How does it feel to wait? God’s people, Israel, knew about waiting. They had not obeyed God’s laws. They worshipped other gods and did not live the way God wanted them to live. Disobeying God made them weak. Other nations ruled over Israel because of Israel’s weakness. For many long years, God’s people waited for the time when they would not be ruled by other nations, when they would be free and strong again. Prophets, people who spoke for God, told the people that God would help them, but they would have to wait for that help to come. Read: Micah 5:2-5a Talk: God’s people trusted God to keep the promise that God would help them by sending a ruler, someone from among them. While they waited, they trusted that God would care for them. Read: Psalm 130:5-8 Light the first Advent candle: We light this candle to remind us that God’s people waited many years for God to help them, for God to send a ruler from among them. “I will wait for the Lord …and I will hope in him.” (Isaiah 8:17) Sing: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” 5 Second week in Advent (three weeks Before Christmas) Light the first Advent Candle: This candle reminds us of the long years God’s people waited for the help, for the ruler God promised to send. While waiting, they trusted God to keep the promise. Pray: One week of Advent is passed, and still we wait, dear God, for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. As we wait, help us to prepare for the celebration by doing things that Jesus did, things that please you. Read: Luke 1:26-35 Talk with each other: How do you think Mary felt about what the angel told her? Why do you think God chose an ordinary young woman to be Jesus’ mother? How would Mary need to prepare for the birth of her child? How do parents prepare for new babies today? An Advent custom from Eastern Europe is preparing a bed for the Baby Jesus by doing things for others that Jesus would do, things that would please God. Our family can do that too. Here’s a container. We can use it as a bed and here are pieces of straw (a small box or basket, three inches wide by six inches long by one and one half inches deep is a good size). For each kind and helpful thing each of us does for friends and family, we may put one piece of straw in the bed. Be sure to do the kind and helpful things in a natural way. We don’t want to announce what we are about. Someone may not realize immediately what we have done to help, and that is the way it should be. By Christmas Eve, perhaps we will have made a soft bed for Jesus by our kindness to others. Read: Matthew 25:35-40 Light the second Advent candle: We light this candle to remind us that God prepared for Jesus to come to our world by choosing parents for him, Mary and Joseph. We can prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth by the loving things we do for other people. Sing: “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus” 6 Third week in Advent (two weeks before Christmas) Have the two previous Advent candles lit before beginning worship. Pray: Dear God, we wait these December days for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Help us prepare to welcome Jesus by doing for others those things that please you. Forgive us when we think first of ourselves and what we want before thinking of others and what they need. Thank you for your son Jesus and his coming to show us your love. Amen Sing: “Go Tell It on the Mountain” Talk: Tell one another about a time when you were startled or surprised. How did you feel inside? If you had been a shepherd, how might you have felt when an angel spoke to you? Why do you think the shepherds were eager to go to Bethlehem? Do you think they might have thought that what the angel said was too incredible? Learn a Bible verse: Luke 2:10-11 Learn the verse by “lining.” The leader says a phrase and participants repeat the phrase until all of the passage has been said. These phrases may be helpful: “ but the angel said to them, �Do not be afraid,’ “ for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people: “to you is born this day in the city of David “ a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Talk: When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, what do you think they might have said to Mary and Joseph? What might have Mary and Joseph said to the shepherds? Read: Luke 2:20 Light the third Advent candle: We light this candle to remind us of the good news the shepherds heard from the angel outside Bethlehem, the good news of great joy for all people. Help us to be people that tell the Good News, the news that God loves everyone. 7 Fourth week in Advent (the week before Christmas) Pray: Dear God, we thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus to live with us as brother, friend, and Savior. In these weeks of Advent, we have tried to prepare for Christmas by thinking about your promise to send a Savior and about people whom you created and whom you love. Help us to look for ways to love and care for others as you love and care for us. Amen. Light the Advent candles: We light candle one to remind us that God’s people waited long years for Messiah, the one whom God would send as helper and ruler for God’s people. We light candle two remembering that God prepared for Jesus, the Messiah to be born by choosing Mary and Joseph to be his parents. We, too, have been preparing for Jesus by the acts of love and kindness done for others. We light candle three to remind us of the good news the shepherds heard, news that Messiah had finally come, that God’s promise was true, that a Savior was born. We light candle four as we think of the gift God gave us in sending Jesus who shows us the way of peace, justice, and love, who is our Savior and our Friend. Read: Isaiah 9:2b, 6-7 Talk: Isaiah, the prophet, wrote that God would send a child who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What are other names you know for Jesus? (Teacher, Master, Lord, Savior, Lamb of God, Son of God, etc.) Why do you think people have given Jesus these names? When you think of Jesus, which of the many names He is called comes first to your mind? Sing: “His Name is Wonderful” 8 Advent Activities for Church “Togetherings” By Susan Phillips Holly Days Intergenerational Gathering for Preschoolers, Children, Their families, and the Congregation following WHEN: First Sunday of Advent after morning worship service WHERE: Fellowship Hall WHAT: Soup and sandwich lunch with craft activities (approx. two hours) WHO’S RESPONSIBLE: Recreation and Food Service Committees and/or Preschool and Children Committee as well as enlisted craft-talented persons HOW: Invite each person who will teach a craft to set up a table with materials for several people to assemble or create a simple Christmas craft in a few minutes’ time, such as: • Tree ornaments • Table decorations • Painted cards • Gift bags • Jewelry • Recipes to sample and copy (punch, fudge, cookies, etc.) Encourage crafts which are Biblical or have nature theme (see guidelines). You will need 10-12 tables depending on number of people expected. One table should have materials for constructing a family advent wreath (from wood, Styrofoam, etc.) with instructions for family worship as candles are lit at home. People will choose which and how many crafts to make. COST: Craft presenters should charge $.25, $.50, $1.00, etc. per person to cover their costs of materials. A collections cup can be put at each table. A $1.00 or more charge for lunch would be appropriate. PROMOTION: Use posters, flyers, and newsletter articles requesting a sign-up in the church office for the lunch and materials estimate. MISSION/MINISTRY EMPHASIS--Consider some of these options: 1. Provide a table for homemade cards, which can be delivered to a local mission such as a homeless shelter or adult daycare center for example. 2. Provide a table for making sandwiches for a shelter. 3. Ask for some creations to be donated to a collection, which will be delivered by carolers to your homebound members. HINTS: 1. This is a family activity and parents should remain to supervise their own children as well as make crafts themselves. 2. This is a good outreach tool when prospective families would be glad to visit. 3. Encourage families to “adopt” a senior or single adult to join with them in the fun. 4. Numbers are difficult to judge if your church is remiss on sign-ups, but for the second year you will have a better idea of expectations. Don’t worry if some crafts run out the first year. Everyone will have made several items. 5. Be sure that persons are assigned to cleanup duty. 6. Provide paint smocks or cover ups for messy crafts or suggest that the participants bring a change of clothes. 9 Preschool and Children Christmas Party By Susan Phillips WHEN: Have the party from 3:30-5:00 PM with parents and other adults and youth joining the children to go caroling at 5:15 PM (large groups may require two hours). Go caroling to homebound church members, around the church neighborhood, or to the homes of prospects who have visited. WHERE: Preschool and children Sunday School rooms WHAT (PRESCHOOLERS): Remain in their rooms with activities such as cookie baking and decorating, fruit punch making, gift making for parents, tree ornaments for home or for the room (possibly using artificial trees due to some fire codes), acting out the Christmas story (spontaneous, not rehearsed or performed) with simple costumes and a manger-box with hay*, taped Christmas music, homemade wrist bells to play with music (large, non-choking bells), and a visit to the sanctuary to view the decorations. Avoid talking about Santa, the reindeer or other fictional Christmas symbols. Rather focus on Baby Jesus and the idea of giving to others. (*Note: Some preschoolers may be allergic to hay--substitute finely shredded brown paper.) WHAT (CHILDREN--GRADES 1-6): Meet in their Sunday School rooms for 30 minutes of refreshments and Christmas games (word games and puzzles and physical inside games, avoiding Santa and other fictional Christmas characters). The next hour will be “Traveling Picture Posing” presented by each class in their rooms for all of the other classes to view. The scenes of the Christmas story from which to choose (depending on the number of classes) are: The angel’s announcement to Mary, travel to Bethlehem, arrival in Bethlehem and search for lodging, birth in the stable/cave, announcement of angels to shepherds in the field and their visit to the stable, and the later visit of the Wise Men. Each class will be assigned a scene or two to pose and will be given costumes from a costume closet or teachers may make simple costumes. Children will make simple staging by drawing backdrops on butcher paper to hang on walls and gathering any simple props for their scene. Characters for posing will be chosen by drawing names. Either teachers or students will be given the scripture references to read while others are posing the scene with no talking. Allow 30 minutes for this preparation. Traveling to the various rooms to view the scenes will be the final 30 minutes of the time. With costumes on and with respectful, reverent attitudes, all students will move to visit the first chronological scene in the first room. The whole group will rotate to the next scene as the children pose the picture as planned. In the final room when the last scene is complete, an appointed teacher or child should lead in prayer and sing “Silent Night” or another appropriate carol. WHO: Children and preschool teachers coordinate plans. Parents may help make costumes or bake refreshments. Preschool and children committees could plan a time of fellowship 10 with snacks for the parents. This time could include taped Christmas music, a display of any recent Bible-learning activities, a pamphlet of Advent devotionals for families, and a list of appropriate gifts for each child (not usually the commercially popular ones). COST: Possible cost of fabric for costumes and refreshments could come from a budget item for Sunday School or socials and fellowships. PROMOTION: Cards of invitation to each child and any prospects is especially effective if sent by teachers. Also promote in newsletter, bulletin, and on posters. HINTS: 1. Measuring a child from neck to top of feet, and doubling measure can make costume tunic. Fold fabric in half and cut a hole large enough for a child’s head. Zigzag stitch around the neck hole and along sides. Use a sash as a belt and scarves and headbands as a headdress. 2. Select the scenes according to the number of characters needed, matching up with number of pupils in class. One class could pose two scenes if it is a large group or you have only two or three children’s classrooms. 3. Every child should have a “part” whether a character, prop helper, or narrator. 4. If the number of pupils is too large to gather in any one Sunday School room, you could use the fellowship hall or gym. 5. If too many costumes are needed, they could be shared between scenes. 6. Planning church Christmas caroling after the party encourages more families to participate and provides a ministry activity for families caroling together. 7. Children love drama, but must be guided to be respectful of each group’s presentation. 11 Involving Children in Worship During the Advent Season By Anita Thompson 1. The Advent Wreath There is no one set custom for the designation of each of the candles on the Advent wreath, with the exception of the White Christ Candle, which is placed in the center. Some traditions use a pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent. Historically, the third Sunday of Advent was a day in which the congregation set aside the discipline of fasting. The color pink is to symbolize joy. Since in this day and time few people choose to follow the discipline of fasting during Advent, it is recommended that the pink candle be replaced with a purple candle like the other three, thus the Advent wreath will have a center white Christ candle encircled by four purple candles. (Some churches are now replacing the color purple with royal blue. Since the color purple is used for the season of Lent, these churches like to use the royal blue instead of purple to make a definite distinction between the two seasons.) Some recommendations for the designation of each candle: (1) Hope (2) Peace (3) Joy (4) Love (1) Prophecy Candle (2) Bethlehem Candle (3) Shepherd’s Candle (4) Angel’s Candle (1) Expectation (2) Preparation (3) Proclamation (4) Revelation a. Select a different family or individual to light an Advent candle each Sunday. A wonderful way to do this is to connect each family or individual with a candle, which has a theme that reflects an event in their own life. For example, a family that has a new baby might speak about the joy this child has brought to their life and then light the Joy Candle. A family who has experienced a tough year, yet has persevered and has held on to their strong faith could speak about hope and then light the Hope Candle. b. An Advent song could be taught to the congregation on the first Sunday of Advent. It could be sung each Sunday as the candles are lighted. Many of these songs contain five verses, one for each of the Sundays of Advent plus Christmas Eve. Such songs can be found in many hymnals. The Chorister’s Guild, an organization devoted to quality Christmas music for children, adults and youth also publishes several Advent candle songs. (The Choristers Guild, 2834 W. Kingsley Road, Garland, TX 75041-2498) 2. Advent Banners Once the themes have been chosen for each of the Sundays of Advent, a banner can be made to coincide with each theme. The banners need not be elaborate. Banners, made by children with markers, can be quite worshipful. A child could process in during the singing of the Advent song each Sunday and hang the banner in the sanctuary. By Christmas Eve, when all five banners are hanging, the children’s work will be a wonderful visual offering. 3. The Advent Scripture Readings Children could read most of the Advent readings. It is recommended that an appropriate adult practice with the child to help him or her become more comfortable with reading scripture in worship. Have the child read from his or her own Bible. 4. Advent Prayers Have a parent and child write a prayer based on the Advent theme for that day. For example, a parent could talk with the child about love and how God’s gift of the baby Jesus was a wonderful way for God to tell us that He loves us. The child could then read the prayer during the worship service. 5. Music for Advent A child or a children’s choir could sing an Advent song based on the theme for the day. A parent and child could sing a duet, or an entire family could sing together. 6. Advent Worship Bulletins You may purchase pre-printed Children’s Worship bulletins for Advent or you may make your own. Again it would be appropriate to tie the worship bulletin to the Advent theme for that day. 7. The Advent Scriptures (Taken from the Revised Common Lectionary) Note: The Revised Common Lectionary is made up of three cycles of scripture readings, called Cycle A, Cycle B, and Cycle C or Year A, Year B, and Year C. Therefore every three years, a cycle is repeated. The cycle begins with the First Sunday of Advent. In 1998, Cycle A began on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29. Following is a list of the scripture readings for Advent/Christmas 1998 (Cycle A). The readings for the remainder of the church year can be found in resources based on the Revised Common Lectionary. 13 The 1998 Advent/Christmas Scripture Readings (Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary) Old Testament Psalm Gospel Epistle Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122 Matthew 24:36-44 Romans 13:11-14 Second Sunday of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 Matthew 3:1-12 Romans 15:4-13 Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146:5-10 Matthew 11:2-11 James 5: 7-10 Fourth Sunday of Advent Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Matthew 1:18-25 Romans 1:1-7 Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 62:6-12 or Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 96 or Psalm 97 or Psalm 98 Luke 2:1-14 ,15-20 or Luke 2:1-7, 8-20 or John 1:l-14 Titus 2: 11-14 or Titus 3: 4-7 or Hebrews 1:1-4, 5-12 Date First Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Advent Worship Resources for Children Compiled by Anita Thompson 14 Title: Author: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: Title: Author: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: Title: Author: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: Forbid Them Not Involving Children in Sunday Worship Based on the Revised Common Lectionary Separate Books for Years A, B and C Carolyn C. Brown Abingdon Press 201 Eighth Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203 1991 through 1994 Contains Children’s Commentary, Weekly Worship Worksheets, Vocabulary Helps, Hymn Suggestions, Sermon Starters and Scripture Index. Table of contents divided into sections: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and After. Approximately $19.95 per book. Worship Time with Kids (Reproducible Pages) Cindy Dingwall Abingdon Press 201 Eighth Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203 1998 Chapter 7 contains worship helps for what they call Celebration Days (The Church Year): Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Epiphany. Approximately $19.95. Young Children and Worship Sonja M. Stewart and Jerome W. Berryman Westminster/John Knox Louisville, KY 1989 Contains a complete section on “Stories for the Church Year: Advent and Christmas”. The first chapter in this section is an introduction to Advent. Then there are chapters for each of the 4 Sundays of Advent, one for Christmas and one titled “The Boy Jesus in the Temple.” (The remainder of the Church Year is covered in the book as well.) Approximately $23.00 15 Title: Author: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: Title: Authors: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: Title: Authors: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: Title: Authors: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: The Church Cares for Children Martha B. Pillow, Editor Mary Anne Fowlkes, Writer Presbyterian Publishing House Louisville, KY 1995 Chapter 8, section 3 contains helps for teaching children about the Advent and Christmas season. Some are useful for use in the worship service; others are useful for classroom activities and/or special events. Approximately $29.95 Handbook of Christmas Programs William Hendricks and Cora Vogel Baker Book House Grand Rapids, Michigan 1986 (5th Printing) Contains resources for both Advent and Christmas. Sections Listed: «Programs to be used in Worship Services «Programs to be given to audiences. «Programs for groups without audiences. «Recitations «Exercises Approximately $9.95. Preparing for the Messiah, Ideas for Teaching/Celebrating Advent Doris Williams and Patrician Griggs Abingdon Press 201 Eighth Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203 1984 (4th Printing) Chapter Titles: «The Importance of Traditions «Teachers Prepare «Children Prepare «Youth Prepare «The Congregation Prepares Approximately $9.95 Come, Lord Jesus (A Children’s Advent Service with Adult Participation) [Actually a small booklet instead of a full book.] Mervin A. Marquardt Concordia Publishing House 3558 South Jefferson Ave. Saint Louis, Missouri 63118-3968 1989 Complete worship services for all the Sundays of Advent and Christmas Approximately $1.75 each. 16 Title: Authors: Publisher: Copyright: Notes: Cost: Celebration Services for Christmas William W. Null Educational Ministries, Inc. 1-800-221-0910 1994 Resources appropriate for various ages for the Christmas Season only. No Advent resources. Approximately $12.95. Publishing Companies that publish good worship and educational materials for the Church Year. Call and get on their mailing list: ¶Creative Communications for the Parish * 10300 Watson Rd. St. Louis, MO 63127 1-800-325-9414 * Publishes wonderful resources for all seasons of the church year: Advent Calendars for children, youth and adults; Advent devotional books for children, youth, and adults; and many other Children’s Advent resources. As always when you order materials from a nonBaptist publishing company, you have to read the information carefully and make sure the theology agrees with the theology of your church. ¶Concordia Publishing House 3558 South Jefferson Ave. Saint Louis, Missouri 63118-3968 ¶Upper Room Books 1908 Grand Avenue P.O. Box 189 Nashville, TN 37202 ¶The Choristers Guild ** 2834 W. Kingsley Road Garland, TX 75041-2498 ** Music publishing company that specializes in children’s music (although they do publish music for youth, adults and hand bells as well.) Membership is required; but through it, you receive copies of all octavos (single songs) and musicals. The Chorister’s Guild follows the liturgical calendar; therefore several of the packets contain wonderful children’s music for use during Advent, Christmas and other times of the church year. 17 Celebrate Christmas By Janet Myers, First Baptist Church, Asheboro, NC Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to plan an intergenerational event for your entire church family. Depending on the size of your congregation, plan a fun-filled night of creating Christmas treasures such as decorations, ornaments, or gifts that target all ages. Include crafts that are rated Preschool Only, Quick and Easy, Intermediate, and Challenging. Select the largest space available (we began in our church Fellowship Hall and have now expanded to the Family Life Center) and set up “crafting stations” complete with all the needed materials for a “Make-it-Take-it experience.” Enlist facilitators for each station to assist crafters as needed. As friends arrive, have them sign in; take a custom designed \decorative shopping bag for all their treasures, and a guide for the year’s crafting choices. Choosing what to do first is sometimes difficult! But the excitement and joy of seeing friends and being together with people of all ages quickly moves folks at will from station to station. A homemade cookie decorating station for refreshments and a cozy nook to relax to favorite seasonal carols provides a time and place to compare treasures and share favorite activities. The Bethlehem Stable is always a favorite for preschoolers and younger children, complete with walk-in stable, straw bales, manger, Baby Jesus, and Bible-times dress up clothes. A faithful teacher or good storyteller can help the children understand the true meaning of Christmas as they dress in Bible-times costumes and reenact the events of that special night. Don’t forget to have a camera ready to capture those tender moments! Because the holidays are a great time to stress the importance of caring for others, why not include a mission action project as part of the night’s events? A “sock tree” (artificial tree adorned with new pairs of children’s socks in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes with a Bible verse tucked inside) can provide an opportunity for families to share with children less fortunate. Socks can be brought by crafters and placed on the tree or can be donated by different church program areas. Distribution to your local women’s shelter could be in bulk or by individual families. A “Community Bakery” from which treats are packaged with a decorative twist and delivered by families to community helpers such as firefighters, police officers, or emergency medical response teams provides opportunities to say “thanks for all you do.” My favorite ministry project happened the year that hurricane Floyd devastated families in the eastern regions of North Carolina. Countless families lost everything, including festive decorations, holiday ornaments and trims used as a part of family traditions at Christmastime. To help restore some of their Christmas spirit, crafters brought new Christmas tree lights and Christmas tree decorations to be donated and delivered to victims before Christmas. The joy created by giving to others remained in my heart long after that holiday season ended and is still a silent reminder that everywhere there are hurting people who need restoration and hope, especially the Hope of the Christ Child. Celebrating the joy of Christmas is a privilege at any age. Why not begin a tradition at your church that brings generations together for generations to come! 18 It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas… By Steve Sumerel, Family Ministry Consultant, Baptist State Convention of NC …And it’s only November! It may be sounding a lot like Christmas in your home, as well. Toy companies are already vying for top position on your child’s “want list.” In our society almost everything about Christmas is taken to an extreme; the greediness of advertising, the extravagance of lights and decorations, and of course, the extreme stress to buy more, get more, give more, and party more. About the only thing that does not get the attention it really deserves is the true meaning of Christmas itself. Most would agree that the season is too commercialized, too busy, and too distant from its origins. However, there is still much good that can come from enjoying the secular trappings of Christmas. Christmas is like no other time, and to a child it is a time of extraordinary sights, sounds, and wonder. Adults see ads and feel misery; children see adventure and feel the mystery. To experience the magic of Christmas, the season is best seen through the eyes of a child. However, to appreciate the meaning of Christmas, parents must take the lead in preparing their children for the season of Advent. The Advent season is a time to re-enact the world’s longing, preparation, and receiving of the Messiah. Advent conveys the sense of excitement and intentionality so that those prepared will be able to experience fully Christ’s coming (Luke 1:76). In keeping with this understanding of Advent, the Christmas season is a time to prepare the family for the coming of Christ into the home. Our society creates an extraordinary environment that says, “There is something very special about this season.” Parents create a home life that explains what it is. Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, and wise men, all welcomed Jesus into the world. Likewise, families can celebrate Advent by welcoming Jesus into the home. Advent is a time of invite Jesus to be a part of family conversation, rituals, and mission. During Advent parents can become much more intentional in bringing Jesus into conversation with their children. For example, think how people collecting money in kettles, colored lights, pretty presents, and so many other “trappings” of the season, can become object lessons and points of conversation about what Jesus did for all of us. There are probably many Christmas traditions that your family already follows; hanging stockings, leaving milk and cookies for Santa, decorating the Christmas tree. Each year parents can add a ritual or tradition that brings Christ into the season. Families can read the biblical account at mealtimes, bedtime, or as the family is decorating the tree. Children enjoy creating stories about the characters of the nativity scene. 19 I heard of a family who waits until the night of Christmas Eve to put the Christ-child into their nativity scene manger. These parents report that presents under the tree are left waiting until the children have checked to be sure that Christ has arrived. This is what Advent is all about. Just as God gave the ultimate gift, families can give the love of Christ as their family mission during this season of the year. Making sure your children have an important part in the preparation of baskets, meals, or wrapping toys for distribution can bring Christ into their understanding of the season. Often traditions of helpfulness that begin as special Christmas activities will continue throughout the year. Create special Christmas photo albums. These collections can help create the continuity of traditions designed to bring Jesus into the home. Do not forget to incorporate pictures from past generations that help support the notion of the timelessness of the gift of Christ. Help your child create an Advent adventure. Welcome Christ to your home! Children’s Sermons for Advent Season 20 The following sermons can be used in a children’s worship time in the congregational worship service the four Sundays prior to Christmas. You may use it in connection with an Advent wreath if your church uses one, or you may use the word and Bible truth for each Sunday and eliminate references to the candles in the Advent wreath. The following sermons were written by Janet Smith: Associate Pastor of the Preschool and Children’s Ministry, First Baptist Church, Asheboro, NC. First Sunday of Advent: Hope (Four weeks before Christmas) Preparation: Write the word “HOPE” on a placard. Mark the verse Isaiah 7:14 in your Bible. The word “advent” means coming. When we celebrate Advent in the church we remember Jesus’ coming to earth as a baby. There are many things that remind us of when Jesus was born. One reminder we have in our church is the Advent wreath. Each Sunday between now and Christmas, we will light a candle on the wreath, and we will remember that Jesus’ birthday, Christmas, is getting closer and closer. The first candle that we light on the Advent wreath reminds us of HOPE. (Hold up HOPE placard.) A long time before Jesus was born; the Jewish people were sad and unhappy. They thought God didn’t care about them. So God gave some special men some good news. God told them that His Son, Jesus was going to be born. (Read Isaiah 7:14 from Bible) “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.” “Immanuel” is another name for Jesus. This special promise is called a prophecy. Now the people knew that God had not forgotten them. Now they had hope that their lives would be better one day when God’s Son would be born. God was sending Jesus to love them and show them how to live. Jesus wasn’t born until several hundred years later, but the Jewish people remembered God’s promise and they had hope that Jesus would be born one day. We also have hope. God has promised us that Jesus is always listening anywhere and anytime we talk to Him. Jesus loves us and cares about us. That gives us hope for every day we live whether it is a good day or a bad day. Jesus is with us while we’re at school, at home, at church, with friends, and with our families. Also, when we read the Bible and pray Jesus helps us learn how to live the way he wants us to. Advent is a good time to look forward to Christmas and think about Jesus being born. It’s also a good time to think about Jesus being with us every day, loving us and helping us to live in a way that will please him. 21 Second Sunday of Advent: Peace (Three Weeks before Christmas) Preparation: Write the word “PEACE” on a placard. Mark the verse Isaiah 9:6 in your Bible. Close your eyes. (Pause) Think about a place you like to go that is quiet and peaceful. Think about how you feel when you go there. Open your eyes. Does it feel good when things are quiet and peaceful around you? Many times peace depends on us—what we do or don’t do. I can remember unhappy times as a child when my misbehavior upset my parents or the routine in my home. At those times I felt unhappy, sad, and even afraid. Everyone in the family felt better when it was peaceful--when we were relaxed, happy, and enjoying being around each other. People who help to make things peaceful are called peacemakers. It is helpful for us to be peacemakers at church and school, too. If we’re rowdy or uncooperative, everyone feels unsettled, irritable, or even angry. If, however, we try to get along with others, help each other, and be peacemakers, we will be more relaxed, happy, ready to learn, and enjoy being with each other. The second candle in our Advent wreath reminds us of peace. (Hold up PEACE placard.) Jesus learned about being a peacemaker in his own family. The Bible tells us He was obedient to His parents. Probably He worked with His father in the carpentry shop and helped His mother in the home. He knew that by cooperating and obeying his parents he could help make His home more peaceful. He is a good example for us, showing us by his life that there is something we can do about how peaceful it is around us. (Read Isaiah 9: 6 from Bible.) In the Bible we read “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Being like Jesus, doing the things He would do, will help us be peaceful inside and help to bring peace around us. 22 Third Sunday of Advent: Joy (Two Weeks before Christmas) Preparation: Write the word “JOY” on a placard. Get two or three pictures of parents with their child when they were infants. Mark the verses Luke 2:10-11 in your Bible. Secure picture of the nativity from children’s picture file. Show the pictures to the children and ask if they recognize the people. Point out how happy the parents look. Before you were born your parents probably looked forward to your arrival with great excitement and anticipation. The months of waiting for your birth may have seemed like a very long time because they were anxious for you to become their little girl or little boy. Mary and Joseph probably felt the same way while they were waiting for the birth of Jesus. They probably wondered what their child would look like and be like. The waiting may have seemed long to them, too. At long last you arrived! What joy they felt! How happy they were finally to see you and hold you after waiting for you so long. Probably right away your parents began calling relatives and friends to tell them about you and to share their joy. For some of you, I was on that list of folks to call and was happy to see and hold you when you were a newborn baby. The third candle in the Advent wreath reminds us of joy. (Show JOY placard and then show picture of nativity.) Mary was also excited and joyful when Jesus was born. She was glad to finally see him and hold him after all the waiting. God felt joy, too, because Jesus’ birth meant His long-promised plan was happening. This baby was the Son whom hundreds of years ago God had promised to send one day. He wanted everyone to know about Jesus’ birth, just as your parents did. God sent angels to tell the shepherds Jesus was born. (Read Luke 2:10-11) “the angel said to them (the shepherds), �Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’” God wanted to be sure the joyful news got around! We still feel joy as we celebrate Jesus’ birth now at Christmas, and God still wants that joyful news to get around today. It’s up to us to let others know that Christmas is special because it is Jesus’ birthday. 23 Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love (Week before Christmas) Preparation: Write the word “LOVE” on a placard. Have a wrapped present. Mark 1 John 4:9a in your Bible. What is this? (Show wrapped present.) Christmas is a time for giving and receiving presents. Sometimes we give presents to get presents. We may try to bribe somebody into liking us by giving him or her a gift, or we may give a gift because we feel as if we have to. The best presents, though, are given out of love. It is fun to give gifts that please someone we care about. The fourth candle in the Advent wreath reminds us of love. (Hold up LOVE placard.) God gave us a gift at Christmas because He loves us. It was not in a wrapped box like this one. What gift did God give us? (Jesus) God sent Jesus to show us that He loves us and to show us how he wants us to live. The best way we can say thank you to God for his gift of Jesus is to love Him. We can tell God we love him, but to show God we love him by the way we act is even better. This time of year we need to act as if Christmas means something to us. In the middle of trees, presents, and Santa Claus lists, remember that the most important part of Christmas is celebrating Jesus’ birth. Christmas is Jesus’ birthday and we can find lots of ways to celebrate by giving to others. Tell a friend or parent the Christmas story. We need to show that Christmas is special to us because God loved us enough to send Jesus. (Read 1 John 4:9a from Bible.) “God loved us and sent his son.” Other Suggestions for the four Sundays of Advent 1. 2. 3. 4. Prophecy. Isaiah 9:2, 7:14 Bethlehem. Luke 2:1-7, Micah 5:2 Shepherds. Luke 2:8-20 Wise Men. Matthew 2:1-12 1. 2. 3. 4. Savior Prince of Peace Son of God Emmanuel 24
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