Advent at Home Family Guide Week 1 - People of Grace

Copyright © 2020 Abingdon Press

Incarnation Children’s Virtual Leader Guide: Presidents and Kings

| Advent at Home Family Guide Week 1

Advent at Home Family Guide Week 1

Dear families,

Observing Advent and Christmas at home may not be what you had in mind this year, but it does offer some important opportunities. As you begin this first week of Advent, reflect on the idea of Jesus as King. What qualities make a good leader? Was Jesus the kind of ruler the people expected? Fill out your Take-Home Challenge sheet with your child, and try some of the following activities to consider Jesus as King.

Make: Pomander

In the time of Jesus, when kings were crowned, they were also anointed. Anointing is when a special sweet-smelling oil is spread on someone’s head. This practice was a way of saying that this person is called to do something important. In some places around the world, people make sweet-smelling gifts called pomanders at Christmastime to remember Jesus as a king.

Supplies to gather at home: clementines (or oranges), cloves (get more than you think you need), woven cloth (burlap, cheesecloth, pantyhose), powdered cinnamon, plastic bag with closure, ribbon, scissors

Prepare:

• Cover a table with a tablecloth or plastic to create a clean workspace.• Make an example of a pomander (optional).• Pour cinnamon into a plastic bag, such as a sandwich bag.• Cut cloth into 10” squares.

Directions:

• Give the child a clementine and cloves.• Show the child how to poke the cloves into the clementine. You may make a

pattern with the cloves, such as a cross, a star, a smiley face, or a heart.• After putting cloves into the clementine, put the clementine into the plastic

bag with the cinnamon. Shake the bag so that the cinnamon covers the clementine.

• Remove the clementine from the bag and wrap it in cloth, tying it with a ribbon.



| Advent at Home Family Guide Week 1

Make: Glitter Bottles

God’s people waited a long time for a special helper called the Messiah to come. When Jesus was born, many people realized he was the Messiah they had been waiting for. Waiting is not always easy. During the season of Advent, as we get ready to celebrate Christmas, we wait for four weeks to remember how long God’s people waited for Jesus.

Supplies to gather at home: clean clear plastic bottles with tight caps, large mixing bowl, funnel, Elmer’s clear glue, glitter, food coloring, hot water, whisk

Tip: Depending on the kind of plastic bottles you have, the proportions of water to glue will be different. The proportion that works best is 20 percent glue, 80 percent water.

Prepare:

• Cover a table with a plastic tablecloth or newspaper to make a work surface.• Make an example of a glitter bottle (optional).• Test bottles to make sure they are watertight. If they are not, you may want to use

hot glue to secure the lids.

Directions:

• Heat the water. Mix hot water, clear glue, food coloring, and glitter in the large mixing bowl. Stir thoroughly.

• While the water mixture is still warm, pour the mixture through the funnel into the plastic bottle. Immediately secure the cap on the bottle. If needed, the adult may use hot glue to secure the cap for the child. Wait for the glue to dry.

• Discussion questions:◊ When is waiting easy for you?◊ When is it hard?◊ When does waiting make you nervous?◊ What can make waiting easier for you?

• Have the child shake the bottle and watch as the glitter settles down to the bottom of the bottle.

Take-Home Challenge: Name

Supplies to gather at home: markers

Supplies from Supply Packet: “Take-Home Challenge, Week 1: Take-Home Chal-lenge: Name”

In the beginnings of Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels, Jesus is named. Jesus also is given many titles: “Emmanuel, God with us,” “Savior,” “Son of God,” “King,” and “Messiah.” Each of these titles has a story behind it about why it was important to God’s people. Talk with your child about the child’s name and your name as you fill out the sheet titled “Name.”


Copyright © 2020 Abingdon Press • Permission is granted to photocopy this page for local church use only.

Take-Home Challenge, Week 1

Take-Home Challenge; NameWho named you? Do you share a name

with anyone else?

What does your name mean?

Is there a story behind your name? How do you feel about your name?



Resource Page 2, Week 1

Leaf Template and Candles


Incarnation Children’s Virtual Leader Guide: The Savior and Our Need for Saving

Page 1 | Advent at Home Family Guide Week 2


Dear families,

During the season of Advent, it is important to reflect on what Jesus’s purpose was. One of the things Jesus did was save people from sin. People are often tempted to do things they know are wrong, and children are no different! Talk about this part of Jesus’s work openly with your children, and if you have questions about this part of Jesus’s mission, ask your pastor. As you go about this second week of Advent with your child, do these activities to reflect on Jesus’s mission in the world. Complete the Take-Home Challenge as a family, reflecting on where you need Jesus’s help in your life and in the world.

Create: Rock Steady

One way the Bible describes God is as a rock. This means that God’s love is reliable and steady. God’s love is shared with the world through the birth and life of Jesus.

Supplies to gather at home: one shoebox or plastic box with lid per family member, one medium-sized rock per family member, acrylic paint, sheet of wax paper

Prepare:

• Cover a table with a tablecloth or plastic sheet to prepare a clean workspace.

Directions:

• Give each family member a rock and a box with a lid. Have them put blobs of paint into the box. Then have them put their rock in the box and put the top on it. Holding the top securely closed, shake the box to mix the rock with the paint.

• Set the rock aside to dry on some wax paper.• Remind your family that God’s love is reliable and steady like a rock!

Create: Loving Necklace

One of the most important things we remember during Advent is that God demonstrates love by giving us Jesus to show us how to live. When we know that we are loved, we are free to be kind and generous to ourselves and to others.

Supplies to gather at home: card stock, crayons, markers, scissors, glitter glue, long piece yarn (for necklace), beads, hole punch




Directions:

• Give the child a piece of card stock. Have the child write “I am loved by God” on the card stock in a space less than 3”x3”. Then have the child decorate around the words.

• Direct the child to cut out their design.• Have the child make a hole in the card stock. Using yarn and beads, make a

necklace and string the design on to the necklace.

Tip: This project can also be done using Shrinky Dinks. Lamination is also helpful, where accessible.

Take-Home Challenge: Asking for Jesus’s Help

This week’s challenge is to ask Jesus for help. Savior means “helper,” so you can ask Jesus for help with anything in your life. See the pictures on the “Take-Home Challenge, Week 2: Asking for Jesus’s Help” sheet and write or draw about how you want to ask Jesus to help you in those situations.




Asking for Jesus’s HelpJesus is a Savior, which means “helper.” Jesus can help us any time in our lives. See the pictures below and write or draw about how you want to ask Jesus to help you in these situations.

With my friends . . .

At school . . .

At home . . .

With my pet . . .When I pray . . .

When I play . . .




Spiral OrnamentJesus has saved!Jesu

s is

sav

in

g ! J e s u s wi l l s a

ve!


Incarnation Children’s Virtual Leader Guide: Emmanuel



Dear families,

In this third week of Advent, when life is still really different from what we expected it would be at this time of year, remember that God is a comforter. This is one of the meanings of “Emmanuel,” which we know means “God with us.” God is with us all the time, even when we feel sad, lonely, angry, or depressed. As you do these activities with your children, reflect on what comfort feels like. How do you comfort people? How do others comfort you? What does it mean to you that God’s presence is always with us in the world?

Create: God with Us Collage

God loves us all the time, no matter where we are or what is going on in our lives. God is with us everywhere we go, in our hearts. Sometimes we see or experience something that reminds us of God’s presence with us. Have you ever experienced something that reminded you that God loves you? What are some things that remind you of God’s presence?

Supplies to gather at home: plain paper, magazines, scissors, glue

Prepare:

• Make sure the magazines you have available are child-friendly.

Directions:

• Give each person in your family a sheet of plain paper, scissors, and glue.• Invite children to find pictures in a magazine that describe ways that God is with

us and loves us. This is open to interpretation, so let the creativity flow!

Create: Pictures of God

When you picture God, what do you see? Why do you think you see that image? We are going to make a picture of God using watercolors. Watercolors are good for this project because God is a mystery. We can never be sure what God looks like or sounds like or smells like, because God is more than any person can know. We can try to make pictures of God, but we know that nothing will show all of what God is. Mostly we can accept that the images of God we have in our brains tell part of the story, and the edges of the pictures might be a bit blurry, just like the edges of watercolors.




Supplies to gather at home: thick or watercolor paper, watercolors, paintbrushes, cups of water, plain paper, pencils

Prepare:

• Cover a table in a tablecloth or newspaper to make a clean workspace.

Directions:

• Give each child a sheet of watercolor paper.• Direct children to paint a picture of God.• Invite children to share their work. Validate their thoughts and creations. Set

papers aside to dry. If desired, invite children to journal about their artwork.

Reflect: Emmanuel and Holy Listening

One way people talk about Jesus is using the name Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Because Jesus lived a long time ago, it can be challenging to understand how God is with us today if Jesus is no longer living on the earth. But God gave us one another as reminders of how much God loves us and is with us. What are some signs that God is with you? How do you feel when you realize God loves you?

Do some holy listening with your family this week. Holy listening is when you focus on someone else’s story and find how you relate to it. We can never know how someone else feels, but we can relate to similar experiences. Make sure everyone gets to share. Here are some prompts to use if you need to:

• A time when you had to share a toy• A time when you didn’t feel listened to• A time when someone didn’t pay attention to you• A time when you wanted what someone else had• A time when you were kind to someone else

Take-Home Challenge: God Is with Me

Use the “Take-Home Challenge, Week 3: God Is with Me” sheet to record how you felt God with you each day this week.




God Is with MeEach day, record how you felt God with you that day.

Sunday Monday

Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday Friday

Saturday




A Comforting GodComplete the sentence on the left side of the table by drawing or writing about something that comforts you on the right side of the table.

God comforts me by . . .

God comforts me by giving me . . .

God comforts me by helping me . . .

God comforts me by telling me . . .

God comforts me by sending . . .

God comforts me by loving me . . .


Incarnation Children’s Virtual Leader Guide: The Light of the World



Dear families,

As we embark on our fourth week of Advent, watch for the light around your home and in your community. Complete the “Take-Home Challenge, Week 4: Shining Light” sheet as a family this week (see below). Use the suggested activities to enrich your family’s activities around gift giving, one of the ways people spread light and encouragement in the winter.

Create: Christmas Gift Tags

During the season of Advent, we are getting ready for Jesus to be born on Christmas. Many people also give gifts during this time. Gifts remind us that Jesus is a gift of love from God. Today we are going to make tags to put on gifts to remind people that the best gift of Christmas is Jesus.

Supplies to gather at home: plain card-stock tags, markers, glitter, glue, crayons

Directions:

• Give the child several gift tags.• Invite the child to choose a phrase to write on the tag. Use phrases such as

◊ “The light shines in the darkness” and ◊ “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” and ◊ “Light of the world”

• Allow the child to decorate the tags.

Create: Giving Light to the World

During Advent, we remember that God loved the world and sent us Jesus to show us how to live. As you do this activity with your family, discuss how you could give light to someone. How could you encourage someone during this Advent season? Whom do you know who needs a reminder that he or she is loved by God? To whom will you give these cards?

Supplies to gather at home: card stock, crayons, markers, pens, envelopes, scissors, glue

Supplies from Supply Packet: “Resource Page 4, Week 4: Giving Light to the World”




Directions:

• With your child, make holiday cards with the card stock. Direct the child to cut out a candle from the sheet titled “Giving Light to the World” and glue it to the card-stock card.

• Write “You Are God’s Light” or “The Light of the World Has Come” or something similar as a greeting on the card.

Take-Home Challenge: Shining Light

This week, explore sources of light in your home using the “Take-Home Challenge, Week 4: Shining Light” sheet. Each day, cut out one of the squares on the sheet and tape it to something that gives off light (a ceiling light, a lamp, a flashlight, Christmas lights on your tree, and so forth). By the end of the week, you will have lots of reminders of Jesus’s light shining in the world.




Shining LightThis week, explore sources of light in your home. Each day, cut out one of these squares and tape it to something that gives off light (a ceiling light, a lamp, a flashlight, Christmas lights on your tree, and so forth). By the end of the week, you will have lots of reminders of Jesus’s light shining in the world.

For extra fun, challenge your family and friends to read the phrase aloud every time they see one of these squares around the home!

The light shines in the

darkness, and the darkness did

not overcome it.

(John 1:5)



not overcome it.

(John 1:5)



not overcome it.

(John 1:5)



not overcome it.

(John 1:5)



not overcome it.

(John 1:5)



not overcome it.

(John 1:5)



not overcome it.

(John 1:5)




Giving Light to the World




Pocket Booklet

In the beginning

was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was

God.

He was in the beginning

with God.



Resource Page 3, Week 4 (continued)

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light

of all people.


darkness,

and the darkness did

not overcome it.

Pocket Booklet, continued


Incarnation Children’s Virtual Leader Guide: Celebrating Epiphany at Home

Page 1 | Extra Resource

CELEBRATING EPIPHANY AT HOME

The feast of the Epiphany is held on January 6, the twelfth and final day of the Christmas season. Epiphany means to appear or be revealed. This is the day that tradition holds the wise ones from the East arrived in Nazareth to meet baby Jesus. They gave their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the young child and his parents. Churches often have stars present in their worship spaces to remember the star that shone in the sky and guided the wise ones to Jesus.

Epiphany is also when Christians remember Jesus’s baptism in the Jordan River, when the Holy Spirit as a dove descended from heaven and God’s voice was heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” Overall, Epiphany is about encountering Jesus and following in the Way he set forward.

As you celebrate Epiphany at home, engage your senses with these activities:

See . . .

• Read Matthew 2:1-12 to experience the story of Jesus’s wise visitors.• Look at the stars. Explore the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA) website to see images from the Hubble Space Telescope.• After Christmas, keep your Nativity set out. Over the twelve days of Christmas,

move the magi and their camels toward the Nativity set to remember that it took the magi some time to arrive.

• Take a walk or ride around your neighborhood and see how many star shapes you can find.

Listen . . .

• “We Three Kings,” John Henry Hopkins, Jr.• “De Tierra Lejana Venimos” (“From a Distant Home”), traditional Puerto Rican

carol• “In the Bleak Midwinter,” Christina G. Rossetti, music by Gustav Holst• “Little Drummer Boy,” Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, and Harry Simeone• “Jesus, the Light of the World,” George D. Elderkin• “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light,” Kathleen Thomerson

Taste . . .

• Cut apples in half to reveal the seeds in a star shape. This is a reminder of the star that shone in the sky when Jesus was born.

• Bake a king cake (galette des rois or Roscón de Reyes) and learn about the Epiphany food traditions from around the world. Visit https://www.epicurious.com/archive/blogs/editor/2010/01/tasty-king-cakes-for-epiphany.html for information and recipes.



Page 2 | Extra Resource

• Make your favorite cupcake recipe and decorate the cupcakes with stars. The magi traveled to celebrate Jesus, so share in the celebration!

Create . . .

• Using yellow, orange, and gold paper, cut out star shapes to hang in your windows. Write the titles of Jesus on each star: Emmanuel, Messiah, Prince of Peace, King of kings, and so forth.

• Dip yarn in glue and form it into a star shape. Let it dry and then hang it up with ribbon. Keep this star in a place you’ll see it often so you remember the sign that led the magi to Jesus.

• Some traditions say that the magi visit children and leave a gift overnight on January 5, the evening before Epiphany. Make a “snack” for the magi’s camels by putting hay, straw, or grass in a shoebox along with a carrot and an apple. Leave the snack by your front door.

More activities . . .

• Help your child fill out the Epiphany worksheets:◊ “Worksheet 1, Epiphany Take-Home Packet: Coloring Page and

Scripture”◊ “Worksheet 2, Epiphany Take-Home Packet: Meeting Jesus”


Worksheet 1, Epiphany Take-Home Packet

Coloring Page and Scripture


When they saw that the __________________ had stopped, they were over-

whelmed with __________________. On entering the house, they saw the

__________________ with Mary his __________________; and they knelt

down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered

him gifts of __________________, frankincense, and __________________.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for

their own country by another road.

(Matthew 2:10-12 NRSV)



Worksheet 2, Epiphany Take-Home Packet

Meeting JesusOn Epiphany, many churches celebrate the day when the magi from the East arrived at Jesus’s home and gave him gifts. Some churches also remember Jesus’s baptism on this day, when God sent a dove as a sign of love to Jesus as he was being baptized. Whatever we are doing on this day, remember that meeting Jesus changes lives. On the worksheet below, write or draw responses to these sentences.

I know Jesus loves me because . . .

____________________________________

____________________________________

I can talk to Jesus about . . .

____________________________________

____________________________________

Jesus shows me how to . . .

____________________________________

____________________________________

I want to tell others about how Jesus . . .

____________________________________

____________________________________

I can worship Jesus by . . .

____________________________________

____________________________________

Advent Week 1: Hope

Advent Candle Lighting“As for you, Bethlehem of Ephrathah, though you are the least significant of Judah’s forces, one who isto be a ruler in Israel on my behalf will come out from you.”

Through the ages God’s people have longed for a righteous ruler who will speed the day when God’swill is done on earth as it is in heaven. We light the first Advent candle as hopeful citizens of God'skingdom, awaiting the arrival of the Anointed One. Jesus, you are King.

(Micah 5:21 and adapted from the Incarnation: Leader Guide, by Mike Poteet)PrayerGod Most High, who rules over all, you claim and call us all—despite our differences and disagreements—to be Your Son’s followers. May your Spirit so fill our minds and hearts as we worship you that wecome to understand and embody what it means to welcome Jesus the Messiah, to praise him, and tofollow him as the King of kings and Prince of Peace. Amen.

(Adapted from the Incarnation: Leader Guide, by Mike Poteet)

Advent Week 2: Love Advent Candle Lighting“Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Yoursavior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord.”Whether we look out to the world around us or into our own hearts, we recognize our deep needfor salvation. We light the second Advent candle to signify our longing for a rescuer, a helper, onewho will deliver us from sin, from despair, even from death. Jesus, you are Savior.

(Luke 2:10-11 and adapted from Matthew 1:21)PrayerHoly and righteous God, before you we can only admit our own unrighteousness and our world’sdeep brokenness. In gratitude, we praise you for giving your Son to be our Savior. In humility, wepray you will guide us now, by your Spirit, to live more fully and freely as your forgiven people.Amen.


Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy From Incarnation by Adam Hamilton

Advent Week 3: Joy

Advent Candle LightingIn the past, God spoke through the prophets in many times and many ways. But in these final days, Godspoke to us through a Son. “The Son is the Light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being.”

We light the third Advent candle as a sign that God is with us, bringing light and joy amidevery conceivable darkness. Come what may, we are not alone. We wait, we hope, trustingthat the One born to Mary is fully God. Jesus, you are Emmanuel.

(Adapted from Hebrews 1:1-3)PrayerWho is like you, God Most High, drawing near to those who are low and in need to raise themup? We thank you that you have not left us alone, but that in your Son Jesus you came to bewith us, as one of us. May we sense you near us even now, through your Spirit. May we takeheart in our darkest and most fearful times, trusting that you abide with us, our LordEmmanuel. And by your grace, may others know through what we do that God is with them.Amen. (Adapted from the Incarnation: Leader Guide, by Mike Poteet)

Advent Week 4: Peace Advent Candle Lighting“The true light that shines on all people was coming into the world.” We light the fourthAdvent candle as creatures eager to meet their Creator. The Word, the life that waspresent in the beginning is coming down to us, to make God known. Jesus, you are theLight of the world. (John 1:9)

PrayerCreator God, in the beginning you called light from darkness, and you have made yourlight to shine in our hearts by displaying your glory in the person of Jesus Christ. We callhim by many names, but they all point to your presence, power, and love. May we shinewith your light not only at Christmas but at all times, in all our words and deeds. As Jesustook on human flesh so long ago, may we, your followers, incarnate your love for others,so that all might give glory to our Father in heaven. Amen


Lighting of the Christ Candle “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ”Messiah. King. Savior. Emmanuel. Word made flesh. Light of the world. Lord. We know Jesus by all these names and many others. We light the Christ candle in celebration of his birth, and of the hope, joy, love, and peace he brings to us and to the whole world. No one has ever seen God, but in Jesus Christ God is made known.

PrayerEternal God,by the birth of Jesus Christ you gave yourself to the world. Grant that, being born in our hearts,he may save us from all our sins,and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator, to whom be everlasting praise and glory,world without end. Amen.

H O P E1 1 / 2 9 -

1 2 / 5

P E A C E1 2 / 6 -1 2 / 1 2

L O V E1 2 / 1 3 -1 2 / 1 9

J O Y1 2 / 2 0 -1 2 / 2 5

GrainsFruits &

Vegetables

Proteins &

Ready-to-Make

Baby Products

& Kids Snacks

Reverse Advent Calendar 2020Benefits the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry

Monetary Donations can be made at www.aurorafoodpantry.org

Day 18: Diapers

Day 19: Formula

Day 20: Baby Food

Day 21: Crackers

Day 22: Granola Bars

Day 23: Juice boxes

Day 12: Canned Tuna or

Chicken

Day 13: Dried/Canned

Beans

Day 15: Mac & Cheese

Day 16: Soups

Day 17: Pancake Mix

Day 7: Applesauce

Day 8: Canned

Vegetable

Day 9: Canned Peas

Day 10: Jelly

Day 11: Canned Fruit

Day 1: Breakfast Cereal

Day 2: Oatmeal

Day 3: Rice

Day 4: Pasta

Day 5: Cereal Bars

Day 6: Stuffing

The specific items in this calendar are always in high demand

but any non-perishable item can be used at the food pantry.

What is a Reverse Advent Calendar? A Reverse Advent calendar focuses on the idea of giving something instead of

receiving something each day during the Advent Season.

The Reverse Advent Calendar (on the back) gives you a list of suggested items to

put into your box each day to benefit the clients of the Aurora Interfaith Food

Pantry. The Food Pantry offers a wide variety of foods for their clients but the

specific items in this calendar are always in high demand. If these items are not

available for you to share, please feel free to substitute items you and your family

choose as alternatives. Have fun with your family giving back to others this season

and maybe create a new tradition!

Completed boxes can be brought back to the Church any time the week of

December 27 - December 30, or simply drop them off at the Journey to the

Manger Luminary Drive on Christmas Eve.

Contact Lara Stanton ([email protected]) for more information.

Advent at Home Family Guide Week 1 - People of Grace

Documents

Transcript of Advent at Home Family Guide Week 1 - People of Grace