Advent Family Faith Formation – Nov 28 & 29
Join us each week as a family to celebrate Jesus bringing hope, joy, peace & love into the world!
Pick from watching our Welcome Videos, Worship Together, Reading the Bible, Talk About It, Family Activities, Pray Together and Bless Each Other – or do them all!
Welcome Videos
Start by picking a Welcome Video from Miss Karla for Grades 1-4
or Miss Renee for littles-Kindergartners or watch both!
Worship Together
Share in some faith practices of worship together!
Shine a Light: If possible, light one candle on your Advent wreath. Say, “Jesus is the Hope of the World.”
Sing Together: Advent song (sounds like Twinkle,Twinkle, Little Star) “Advent is a time to wait. Not quite time to celebrate. Light the candles one by one. ‘Til the Advent time is done. Help us in our work and play to prepare for Christmas day.”
Make an Offering: How will you make an offering today? (One fun idea is to look up: https://goodgifts.elca.org For as little as $10, you can give a family in need a flock of chicks!)
Read the Bible Together
Read this week’s God’s Great Story in the children’s Bible for you child’s age.
Spark Story Bible (received by 3 year olds) Mary Visits Elizabeth pg 192
Bible (Adventure Bibles received in 3rd Grade) Luke 1:26-45
Talk About It!
Have fun asking question for all your family members!
Advent begins! That means there are only four Sundays left before Christmas. As you can tell from our song, Advent means to wait and prepare. The four candles in an Advent wreath remind us to think about love, hope, joy and peace. (People don’t always discuss these in the same order, but that’s ok.) Today we are going to focus on Hope. What do you think hope is? Wishing for something? Wanting something to happen? Share some of your hopes with your family.
Do Week 1 of the “An Illustrated Advent for Families” together! Download it HERE!
Dig Deeper into HOPE: Read Psalm25:5 and Psalm 31:24. In the Bible, hope isn’t so much like a wish, but a confident belief. “My hope is in the Lord.” That means that you believe that God can do what He promises. Hope is a great helper when we are feeling sad or down. Talk with your family about what makes you feel hopeful. Think of a few ideas about how you can bring hope to others.
Family Activity Choices
Pick activities to do together! Supplies are provided in our Monthly At-Home Kits you picked up at our drive thru events or ask to have delivered to your home.
Week 1 Activity – Dove Ornament: Follow the instructions in the “An Illustrated Advent for Families” and make an ornament to remind you that the Holy Spirit is there with you to give you hope. And there is a fun coloring sheet this week too!
Have more fun with hope – Playing around with hope: Use the letters in HOPE to be artistic, poetic, active or rhythmic. Use these examples or create your own.
Be artistic: (example) One of Nativity’s 3rd graders turned the H into the manger scene, the O into a wreath, the P into a Christmas tree, and the E into a present. Be poetic: (example) Have an Open heart for Passing the love to Everyone.Be active: (example) Hop Over Potholders Expertly! Be rhythmic: (example) Say each letter with an action. H – pat your legs, O – clap your hands, P – snap your fingers, E – pound the floor. Spell it a few times and end with a drumroll on the floor!
Pray Together
“God of Hope, Sometimes we feel afraid. Just like the angel told Mary, you whisper to us, “fear not.” When fear grows inside us, help us hold hope. Help us be brave and share your messages of hope with our friends and neighbors. Amen.”
Bless Each Other
At the end of your time, give each other a special blessing to remember one of God’s promises.
Hold hands and jump up and down, and say “I can’t wait for Jesus to come!”