December 2020

Preparedness is a familiar and important concept for parents. Often it’s associated with physical safety: child-proofing a home, keeping emergency phone numbers handy, and planning ahead in case of natural disasters. Preparation also plays a role in joyful occasions—from faith passages to developmental milestones. Throughout the years, parents make countless decisions and plans, offering guidance and support as their kids prepare to head out on their own someday. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, a season known as Advent, followers of Jesus have the opportunity to prepare our hearts for his birth. That can be challenging,

with all the hustle and bustle of the typical December. Advent also is a time to prepare for Jesus’ second coming, something we may not think about very often amid packed daily schedules. Throughout Scripture—often in stories called parables—Jesus instructs us to stay alert and watchful. The day of his return, which is unknown to all but God, will appear like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). So, we are to remain awake, tell others about Jesus’ good news of salvation, and be ready to share our beliefs. To help your children be spiritually prepared, put Jesus and faith in him at the center of your home—and your Christmas celebrations. Read on for more seasonal ideas for getting ready to welcome our Savior and King!

Christmas Reminds Us to Be Prepared

POWERSOURCE ASK JESUS: 1. To help your family members

prepare their hearts for the upcoming Christmas celebration.

2. To make you alert to ways you can share your faith during the holiday season.

3. To keep you ready and watchful for Jesus’ second coming.

Kumulani Keiki News For more info call Rondilyn Franz @ 808-669-6657 or email: mauifranz@me.com

! The$Preschool$at$Kapalua$

TEACHABLE MOMENTS

Our Guiding Star

Hide a swaddled doll in a darkened room. Then lead family members through the room with flashlights (or phone lights) to search for the baby. Play several rounds, giving each person a turn to hide the baby and lead the search.

Read aloud Matthew 2:1-12. Say: A bright star led some followers to find baby Jesus, who was born to be the light of the world. It must have been so exciting to follow the star to Bethlehem to find baby Jesus!

Ask: In our game, how did you feel when you were following the light? How would the game have been different without flashlights?

Say: I’m glad we were prepared with these lights so we could find the baby. Let’s remember to follow the light of Jesus every day as we get ready for Christmas! Close in prayer, thanking Jesus for always guiding us with his light.

Jesus Is Coming!

The people of Jesus’ day expected him to be an earthly king who would overthrow the Romans and restore the kingdom of Israel. From our standpoint in history, we know that the baby Jesus grew up to become the Suffering Servant (see Isaiah 53), a sinless sacrifice who died in our place. One day, Jesus will return bodily to rule as King over all heaven and earth. But as Immanuel, or “God with us,” Jesus also remains always present with us, no matter what we’re facing. Remind children of that precious promise as Christmas approaches—and every day after!

“I have seen your salvation, which you have

prepared for all people.” —Luke 2:30-31

Guest Prep Brainstorm things your family does to get ready for guests. Discuss what you’d do differently if Jesus came to stay at your house. Read aloud Mark 1:3-4. Say: “John the Baptist told many people that Jesus was coming. We, too, can let others know what Christmas is about—our Savior’s birth.” Pray, asking God to bless your family’s plans for his Son’s arrival.

Holding onto Hope At breakfast, discuss each day’s Christmas-related plans. Talk about how anticipating this special time is like or unlike what Mary and Joseph hoped for as they waited for Jesus.

Preparing a Place Have children design place cards and decorate paper plates for a meal. Afterward, read Luke 14:12-24 and talk about how God loves each of us and invites us to a heavenly feast. Say: “While we’re preparing our hearts for Jesus, God is preparing a place for us in heaven.” Close in prayer, thanking God for each family member by name.

Waiting for the Promise Discuss why waiting is tough—and how it feels when a long wait is finally over. Read aloud Jeremiah 33:14-16. Say: “This prophet told people that the Messiah, Jesus, was coming. More than 500 years

later, God’s promise was fulfilled.” Brainstorm promises you could make that might be worthwhile in 500 years. Say: “Knowing that God always keeps his promises helps us trust him while we’re waiting.”

“Spread” the News Set out sugar cookies, frosting, blunt knives, and sprinkles. While kids decorate cookies, discuss ways we can “spread” the good news about Jesus’ birth and add “sprinkles” of joy to people’s lives. Nativity Copycats Encourage kids to follow the examples of people in the Bible: loving Jesus as Mary and Joseph did, praising Jesus as the angels did, telling others about Jesus as the shepherds did, and giving Jesus gifts as the wise men did. Christmas Concert Let younger children ring bells, play music boxes, and dance to Christmas carols. Say: “Knowing that Jesus is coming makes us happy!” The Big Picture On a long piece of paper, outline a Christmas design. Each day in December, spend a few minutes coloring in the details together. As the mural comes into focus, discuss how to stay focused on Jesus. Display the completed mural in a window.

December

December 7 Women’s Advent, 7pm in the barn December 12 An Evening in December: Ballet & Nativity 6pm in the barn December 24 Christmas Eve Services in the barn… 5 and 7pm

Happy Birthday

Jesus!

MAHALO NUI LOA! To all who packed shoeboxes for children in need around the world! We packed over 200 boxes, Lives will be changed because of you! Pray for the children who will receive these special gifts this Christmas!

Sunday School Teaching Teams:

9m-Kindergarten in DaBEACH Paloma, Monica, Ilana, Cassidy, Kyli, Imani, Ellen, Emily, Sandy and Wyatt

Basic Truth: Christmas Cookies – Jesus is God’s

Son!

1st-5th Grade at the Oasis Claire, Valerie, Lacie, Teresa & Lynn

Life App: CHRISTMAS: Celebrating Jesus, God’s

greatest gift!

Parent Cue discussion starter pages are to assist parents in helping

their children apply what we are learning In Sunday School to their

daily lives! Go to kumulanichapel.org, children/parents page.

Advent 2020G

ather aroun

d every day this m

onth

to read the story of h

ow G

od sent joy to th

e world

with

the gift of H

is Son, Jesus. W

hile you’re at it,

spread some joy of your ow

n as a fam

ily!

A youn

g couple, Mary an

dJoseph

, get engaged.

Kick off

the month w

ithhot chocolate for everyone.

Take turns talking about yourfavorite C

hristmases of the past.

On

e day, God sen

ds the an

gel,G

abriel, to Mary. G

abriel has

some very special n

ews!

Ask everyone to choose som

eone, and w

rite a personalizedC

hristmas card to them

. Put each cardin an envelope, address and stam

pthem

, and mail them

.

Mary is greatly troubled

wh

en sh

e hears th

e angel’s greetin

g.

Decorate your bedroom

doors w

ith wrapping paper, and put up a

sign with a C

hristmas greeting.

Gabriel respon

dsto M

ary, saying:

“Don’t be afraid.

God is very h

appy with

you!”

Take a car ride or walk on foot

to see Christm

as lights anddecorations in your

neighborhood or comm

unity.

Gabriel tells M

aryth

e special new

s:Sh

e will h

ave a baby boy, and

the baby w

ill be nam

ed Jesus.

Clean out the toy bins,

closets, and drawers.

Donate item

s to a local shelteror thrift store.

Gabriel sh

ares with

Mary

more details of G

od’s plan:

“Jesus will be great an

dw

ill be called God’s very ow

n son

!”

Have a fam

ily picnicin front of the C

hristmas tree.

Mary doesn’t un

derstand

how

she can

have a baby

with

out being m

arried, but the an

gel, G

abriel, assures her of a great truth

:N

othin

g is impossible w

ith G

od.

Read a C

hristmas book

or google a story online.R

ead it aloud together.

“I serve God w

ith m

y life and w

ant

all that you h

ave said to happen

,”M

ary tells the an

gel, and h

e leaves.

Hide candy canes around your house.

Have a fam

ily candy cane hunt, and see w

ho can collect the most.

Mary visits h

er cousin, Elizabeth

,an

d is so overwh

elmed w

ith G

od’sgoodn

ess, she sin

gs a song of praise.

Have a gift w

rapping competition.

Who can w

rap the fastest?

Caesar A

ugustus wan

ts to know

how

many people are in

his em

pire,so h

e tells all the people to go

back to their h

ometow

nto be registered an

d counted.

Google search C

hristmas traditions

around the world, and ask your fam

ily tovote on a new

tradition to adopt.

Joseph brin

gs Mary, w

ho is

pregnan

t, to his h

ometow

n

of Beth

lehem

to be counted.

Gather your extra tow

els and blankets, and w

ash and dry them.

Then, as a fam

ily, go together to donate them

to an animal shelter.

Wh

ile Joseph an

d Mary are

in B

ethleh

em, th

e time com

esfor th

e baby to be born.

Eat dinner together by

candlelight or Christm

as lights.

Mary gives birth

to Jesus, wraps

Him

in sw

addling cloth

s, and lays

Him

in a m

anger because th

ere isn

o room for th

em anyw

here else.

Grab som

e stuffed anim

alsand tow

els or small blankets.

Search how to sw

addle a baby.E

ncourage everyone to try swaddling.

Have a contest to see w

hose is best!

At n

ight in

a nearby fi

eld,sh

epherds are w

atchin

g their fl

ocks.

Bundle up and go outside

after nightfall. Look at the stars—those are the sam

e stars the shepherdssaw

in the sky the night Jesus was born.

Th

e sky lights up

—G

od has sen

t an an

gel to the

sheph

erds to tell them

the good n

ews of Jesus’ birth

.

Ask everyone to sign a fam

ily“T

hank You” card to your mail carrier.

Feel free to add a bottle of water and

a $10 gift card for lunch!

Wh

en th

e sheph

erdssee th

e angel, th

ey’re afraid!

Get those phones ready

and have a silly,C

hristmas-them

ed photoshoot.

Th

e angel tries to calm

the sh

epherds, sayin

g:“D

on’t be afraid. I bring

won

derful new

s that w

illbrin

g joy to all of the w

orld!”

Create a playlist using everyone’sfavorite C

hristmas song. T

hen,crank up the volum

e, press play,and have a fam

ily dance party!

“A Savior, th

e Rescuer

you have been

waitin

g for,is born

today!” the an

gel proclaims

to the sh

epherds.

Grab blankets and popcorn,

and have a Christm

as movie

marathon together.

Th

e angel explain

s the sh

epherds

will fi

nd th

e Savior, a baby,w

rapped in sw

addling cloth

san

d lying in

a man

ger.

The big day is alm

ost here! To prepare,turn up the C

hristmas m

usic, assign chores,and clean the house

from top to bottom

.

More an

gels come to celebrate

the good n

ews—

they arrive

at the sh

epherd’s fi

eldan

d begin praisin

g God!

Declare today is R

ed and Green D

ay!Tell everyone to dress in all red

and green—even if it doesn’t m

atch!

Th

e sheph

erds leave their fl

ocks and

hurry to fi

nd M

ary, Joseph, an

dth

e baby, wh

o is lying in

a man

ger.

Break out the cookie cutters, and bake

Christm

as cookies together.

After th

ey see the baby, th

e sh

epherds excitedly go an

d tell th

e good new

sto everyon

e they see!

Call or FaceT

ime a fam

ily mem

ber, andsing them

a Christm

as carol.

Th

e sheph

erds returnto th

eir flocks, praisin

g God

for all they h

ave seen an

d heard.

Enjoy a fam

ily board game night

in front of the Christm

as tree.

Mary n

ames th

e baby Jesus,just as th

e angel told h

er to do.

Choose a scene from

the Christm

as story, assign roles,and act it out.

God h

as sent Jesus to rescue us

because God loves us so very m

uch!

Read the story of Jesus’ birth

from Luke 1:26–2:21. R

emem

ber the greatest gift of all—

the hope w

e have in our Savior, Jesus!

©2020 PAREN

T CUE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TH

EPARENTCUE.O

RG

HO

PE CA

ND

LER

EA

DIsaiah 9:6-7

As G

od’s people were about to

head into

exile, G

od delivered

hope through a promise. Som

eday, this w

ill all be over—a K

ing would

come w

ho would m

ake all things new

. C

hristmas

celebrates the

hope that God sent Jesus to fulfill

that promise and rescue creation

once and

for all.

Know

ing that

God has kept H

is promises in the

past gives us hope that God w

ill continue keeping H

is promises in

the future.

ASK

• What is som

ething you hope for? • H

ow can you stay hop

eful even w

hen you don’t g

et what you

want?

• When have you seen G

od take care of our fam

ily?

DO

Light the Hope candle.

JOY

CA

ND

LER

EA

DLuke 1:26-38, 46-47

The angel

Gabriel

appeared to

Mary to announce that she w

ould be Jesus’ m

other. This must have

come as quite a surprise. A

fter all, M

ary wasn’t m

arried yet, and she had a different plan for her life. G

abriel reminded her that nothing

is impossible w

ith God. She could

have been

overwhelm

ed by

this startling new

s, but she chose to respond w

ith a song of joy. Nothing

takes G

od by

surprise. W

e can

trust that God has an ultim

ate plan for our lives. D

iscover the joy that com

es from believing in Jesus and

God’s plan for us.

ASK

• Who are w

e planning on seeing this C

hristmas?

• How

do you feel when your plans

don’t happen like you want?

• How

can we rem

ember to have

joy, even when our plans change?

DO

Light the Hope and Joy candles.

LOV

E CA

ND

LE R

EA

DLuke 2:1-7

From a hum

an perspective, this whole

situation must have seem

ed crazy to M

ary and Joseph. Not only w

as Mary

expecting the baby who w

ould save the w

orld, but now she and Joseph had

to travel to Bethlehem for the census.

When they arrive, there’s no room

for them

to stay except for the place they keep the anim

als. As hectic as this

might have seem

ed, this is exactly how

God w

anted Jesus to enter the world.

Right from the start, G

od wanted to

have a relationship with us. Even w

hen w

e messed that up w

ith our sin, God

continued to love and make a w

ay to rescue us. Jesus is proof that G

od loves us unconditionally.

ASK

• What are w

e giving others this C

hristmas?

• How

does it make you feel

knowing G

od loves you so much?

• How

can we show

God’s love to

others?

DO

Light the Hope, Joy, and

Love candles.

PEAC

E CA

ND

LER

EA

DLuke 2:8-20

After

Jesus w

as born,

the first

people to

find out

are som

e unassum

ing shepherds

in a

field m

inding their own business. The

angel announced Jesus’ birth along w

ith an angel choir that proclaimed

God’s peace for everyone on earth.

They rushed to see the baby for them

selves. They were so excited

that they spent the rest of the night telling everyone they could about Jesus. W

e hope that this Christm

as you w

ould come to know

God’s

love and believe that Jesus truly is the Savior of the w

orld.

ASK

• What does it m

ean to have peace?

• Why is hard to find peace

sometim

es?• H

ow can w

e have peace knowing

God loves us and sent us Jesus?

DO

Light the Hope, Joy, Love, and

Peace candles.

CH

RIST C

AN

DLE

RE

AD

John 1:1-5, 14

The “Word” John is talking about

is Jesus. Jesus is the Christ, the

Son of God. H

e has been with G

od from

the beginning, giving life and breath to all things. C

hristmas is

the celebration that Jesus became

like us. He lived and died and rose

again, so that we could have life

that lasts forever with G

od. This C

hristmas

let’s celebrate

that Jesus cam

e to rescue us and God

is always w

ith us.

ASK

• What’s your favorite thing

about Christm

as? Why?

• How

can we focus on Jesus

this Christm

as?• H

ow can w

e stay focused on Jesus throughout the w

hole year?

DO

Light all five candles with the

Christ candle last.

PR

AY

“Dear

God,

thank You

for rem

inding us during this time

of year

that You

keep Your

promises—

every single

time!

Thank You for the promise of

Jesus. Thank You for the hope that

we

have in

Him

. Please

help us to remem

ber what You

did for Your people—and for

us—w

hen You sent Jesus to be our Savior. W

e love You, and w

e pray these things in Jesus’ nam

e, amen.”

PR

AY

“Dear

God,

thank You

for sending Jesus to be our Savior. W

e can see how M

ary trusted Your plan, and You filled her heart w

ith joy. Thank You for rem

inding us

that You

have a

good plan

for our

lives, too. H

elp us to find our joy in You,

because Your

plans are

ALW

AYS good. We love You,

and w

e pray

these things

in Jesus’ nam

e, amen.”

PR

AY

“Dear G

od, thank You for showing

Your love by sending Jesus. You kept

Your prom

ise to

send a

Savior, and You sent Him

at just the right tim

e. Help us to alw

ays rem

ember how

much You love

us—so m

uch that You sent Your ow

n Son to rescue us. And help

us remem

ber the true meaning

of Christm

as as we celebrate w

ith our fam

ily and friends. We love

You, and we pray these things in

Jesus’ name, am

en.”

PR

AY

“Dear G

od, thank You for this rem

inder that

Your peace

is for

everyone. You

love and

care about

each and

every one of us. You love us so m

uch that You sent Jesus to be our Savior!

Thank You

for the

peace that comes w

hen we put

our faith in You. Please help us to trust You and live Your w

ay every day. W

e love You, and w

e pray these things in Jesus’ nam

e, amen.”

PR

AY

“Dear

God,

thank You

for sending Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You for sending Jesus to be a light in this w

orld that can seem

so dark. This Christm

as, keep

us focused

on Jesus,

the true

reason for

why

we

celebrate. A

s w

e rem

ember

how m

uch You love us, help us know

how w

e can show Your

love to others this Christm

as. W

e love You. We pray this in

Jesus’ name, am

en.”

CH

RISTMA

S CO

UN

TDO

WN