May this first week of Advent be a Focus on HOPE which leads us to WORSHIP!!
I’m going to put a great resource from Focus on the Family on here that I love to do with my kids during Advent. This is also perfect for your own personal devotion times during this season of preparation!!…I love this season and pray that you will be focused on Jesus…It takes a lot of discipline and choice to worship HIM rather than worship everything else this month.
Oh, check this out if you want to experience a different depth to Advent and be challenged…what an incredible ministry…Do you want to do this with me?? CLICK HERE… Advent Conspiracy
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY: Advent Readings
The length of the Advent season depends on which day of the week Christmas falls on. This schedule includes all possible 28 days of Advent. For shorter seasons adjust this schedule by doubling up on some readings or eliminating the final two readings, which record events after Christ’s birth.
First Week
Sun. Is. 40:1-5 Mon. Is. 52:7-10 Tue. Is. 40:9-11 Wed. Gen. 3:8-15 Thu. Gen. 15:1-6 Fri. Deut. 18:15-19 Sat. Ps. 89:1-4
Second Week
Sun. Is. 11:1-10 Mon. Zech. 6:12-13 Tue. Mic. 5:2-4 Wed. Mal. 3:1-6 Thu. John 1:1-8 Fri. John 1:9-18 Sat. Mark 1:1-3
Third Week
Sun. Luke 1:5-13 Mon. Luke 1:14-17 Tue. Luke 1:18-25 Wed. Luke 1:39-45 Thu. Luke 1:46-56 Fri. Luke 1:57-66 Sat. Luke 1:67-80
Fourth Week
Sun. Is. 7:10-14 Mon. Luke 1:26-35 Tue. Is. 9:2-7 Wed. Mt. 1:18-25 Thu. Luke 2:1-20 Fri. Mt. 2:1-2 Sat. Luke 2:21-35
More than any other activity, Advent can restore Jesus to the center of the Christmas celebration, because on each Advent day the birth of Jesus is read, sung and talked about. The whole family can participate and find the observance meaningful. The props are simple and inexpensive. The memories and training will last a lifetime. Although the common tenets of observing Advent are shared by many churches, each family can add its own flavor. Following is a basic primer on how to start celebrating Advent this year.
When: Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Because Christmas falls on different days each year, Advent can last 22 to 28 days.
Prepare your family: Let your family or household know that this year you are going to start a new tradition to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Whenever you can with children, refer to Christmas as Jesus’ birthday. Decide which time of the day will work best for your Advent time.
What you need:
An Advent wreath, which can be purchased at most Christian bookstores, or made of fire-safe materials or a log with holes for candles. Perhaps it could be a family event to choose or make the Advent wreath.
Four candles, three purple and one rose, and an additional white candle for Christmas Eve. A box of four Advent candles can be purchased at many card stores or Christian bookstores.
A Bible for readings and, for younger children, a selection of children’s Christmas stories that focus on the birth of Jesus.
Advent readings.
Optional items:
An Advent calendar, available where cards are sold, with 24 windows to open each day in December or a paper chain of 24 red and green links to mark the number of days until Jesus’ birthday.
Christmas carol books.
Beginning the celebration: On the first day begin with either a prayer or a Christmas carol. Light the first purple candle, known as the prophecy candle. The liturgical color purple is a sign of penance and longing as we wait for the birth of Jesus. With the lighting, talk about Jesus being the light of the world. Read the Advent Scripture of the day. Conclude by singing or praying. Have one child blow out the candle.
Light the same candle each day of the first week. Follow with the reading, Christmas carols or other meaningful activities. On the second Sunday light two purple candles, both of which are relit each night. The second candle is known as the Bethlehem candle.
The third week light the two purple candles and then a rose candle, or shepherd candle. Rose is a sign of joy and hope that He is coming.
Light the last candle, known as the angel candle, on the fourth Sunday. All four candles are lit each night that week to symbolize the growing brightness of Jesus’ coming.
Advent activities for Christmas Eve: Conclude the Advent season by lighting all four candles and placing an additional white candle in the center in its own holder. Have a birthday party for Jesus complete with cake, the Happy Birthday song, candles and presents of nonmaterial gifts such as singing, readings, a play and prayers that each family member brings to share with others. Consider doing a nativity play with simple costumes. As you prepare to open gifts explain how we give gifts as a reminder of how much God gave us in Jesus.
Long after the new toys are banished to the back of the closet and the decorations stored away for another year, the memories of the four weeks of Advent will remain. Don’t be surprised if it turns out to be your favorite tradition!
Additional Advent Activities
As Christmas cards arrive, save them with the Advent wreath and use your Advent prayer time to pray for the senders.
Do an Advent service project for the needy. Collect money or goods and use a portion of the Advent time to decide whom to help and how to do it. Some possibilities are to join a church’s gift-giving project, call the Salvation Army for names of families who are needy, send a special food or gift package to a missionary or give anonymously to those you know in need.
Use your nativity set with as many animals as possible to enact the story. (Great for younger kids!) Some families set up the manger scene and each day move the people and animals in a little closer.
Add occasional craft times to the end of an Advent ceremony. Make ornaments using salt dough or glue pictures of family members on flat foam shapes and decorate.
Make cookies or candies to share at the conclusion of your Advent time, or make special Advent cookies different from Christmas ones.
Have children bring homemade instruments to enhance the singing.
If you have competitive children, alternate who will light the candle, pick the carol, lead the prayers and read the Bible.
Invite your friends to share an Advent evening with you.
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WEEKLY ADVENT READINGS:
First Sunday of advent : Hope light one purple candle to symbolize Hope Prayer Read Isaiah 60:2-3 Extinguish the flame
Second Sunday : Peace Light two purple candles – Hope and Peace Prayer Read Mark 1:4 Extinguish the flames Third Sunday : Joy Light two purple candles (Hope and Peace) and one rose to symbolize Joy Prayer Read Isaiah 35:10 Extinguish the flames Fourth Sunday: Love light all four candles – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love Prayer Read Isaiah 9:6-7 Extinguish the flames
Christmas Eve After Sunset… Light all four candles and add the fifth white candle (the light of Christ) Prayer Read Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 2:1-20 Keep the candles lit a bit longer, or safely throughout the evening.
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