Advent Week 4: Prayers & Activities

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Next week is the 4th week of Advent, also known as the week before Christmas.  I'm sure that this week has been greatly anticipated in your homes!  Read on for suggestions about how to celebrate the 4th week of Advent in your home.

4th Week of Advent (Dec. 18 - 25)
If you have an Advent wreath in your home, light all four candles this week.  Add an additional candle to the center of your wreath.  Explain to your children that you will light this candle on Christmas Eve.

This is the prayer for this week.  Consider saying this prayer every night as a family before you eat dinner.

"Jesus, your mother, Mary, is “blessed among women.” We are happy that she said “Yes!” to being your mother.  As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the  light of love into our lives.  Amen."

Activities for this week:

- Encourage your child to draw a nativity scene.

- In Sunday School (12/18), your child made a star ornament.  Talk with your child about why we call Jesus the "light of the world." 

- Do an Advent Scavenger Hunt.  Below you will find symbols of Advent.  Print them out and hide them around your house for your children to find.  Once they find all the symbols, talk about  how each one is important to the story.

Advent Week 3: Prayers & Activities

Continuing with our weekly activities for the Advent season, here's what is going on for the..

3rd Week of Advent (Dec. 11 - 17)
If you have an Advent wreath, light the first, second, and third candles.

The prayer for this week is:

"Jesus, we gather here as a family to dedicate our lives to you, as John the Baptist did. Help us to know, love, and serve you. As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of joy into our lives.  Amen."

Activities for this week:

- Read about John the Baptist, starting with the story of how Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was John's mother.  You can read this in The Children's Illustrated Bible pages 186 - 189.

- Explain that when John grew up, he told everyone about Jesus.  You can read about John as an adult also in The Children's Illustrated Bible, pages 202 - 203.

This prayer talks about the light of joy, which is a wonderful way to think about the love of Christ.  Talk with your children about how you can spread joy this week.  Some ideas:

- Bake cookies for a neighbor.

- Book a time to go to the Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla.  Make a meal or just a dessert for the families staying there.  Here is their website.

- Buy dog and/or cat treats and bring them to the animal shelter.

Any other ideas?  Add them in the comments, below.

Advent Weeks 1 & 2: Prayers and Activites

Here is a special way to countdown to Christmas while using your Advent Wreath (or not!):  Each night as you sit down for dinner, light the weekly candle(s) on your wreath and say the weekly prayer.  Below, you will find prayers and ideas for Advent activites with your family.

First Week of Advent (11/27 - 12/3)

Light the first candle.  The prayer for the first week of Advent is:

"Jesus, as we wait for your coming, help us not to be afraid and to trust in you. As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of hope into our lives. Amen."

Second Week of Advent (12/4 - 12/10)

Light the first and second candles.  The prayer for the Second Week of Advent is:

"Jesus, John the Baptist told the people, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn’t have any.  If you have food, share it with someone else.”  As we light this candle, we remember that you bring the light of service into our lives. Amen."

Activities for the Second Week of Advent:

- Talk with your family about what this week's prayer means.  Discuss ways to share with those in need.  Next time you are at Target or another clothing store, have your children help you choose a coat or two for a child in need.  You can drop them off at church.  Church School will continue to take nonperishable food donations until January 1.

- If you have older children, consider taking them to the Carver Center or another food bank to help organize canned goods. 

Make Your Own Advent Wreath

Happy Advent, everyone!  Some of you might have made Advent Wreaths this past Sunday.  If not, never fear: instructions for how to make them are below.  As Advent goes on, I will post prayers and activities that can be done with or without a wreath.

Option 1: Super Easy

Materials- Red and green construction paper, scissors, pencils, votive candles.

How To

1. Trace your children's hands on the green construction paper.  Cut out enough hands to create a large circle.  The fingers of the hands should face outward. 

2. Tape or glue the green hands together in the shape of a circle. 
3. Use glitter, sequins, pompoms, or circles cut out of red construction paper to decorate your wreath.

4. Get 4 votive candles.  Place them on your wreath.

5. Voila!

Here is a lovely example that I made...

Option 2: More Complex

Materials- Wire wreath frame (from Michael's), length of greenery (faux or real), duct tape, various decorations, 4 candles.

How To

1. Duct tape your four candles to the wreath frame.  Michael's has green duct tape the works well.

2. Once the candles are secured, wrap the greenery around your wreath.

3. Decorate with ribbon, charms, ornaments, etc.

4. Voila!

History & Symbolism of the Advent Wreath

Advent wreaths were originally part of the folk traditions of Northern Europe, where the evergreens and candles represented life and light in the dark winter months.  According to legend, Saint Boniface incorporated Advent Wreaths into the Christian tradition in the 8^th century.  

·        The Circular Wreath:  With no beginning and no end, the wreath symbolizes the eternity of God’s love.

·        The Evergreens:  These symbolize life everlasting, since they stay green all year round.

·        The Candles: Each candle represents a Sunday in Advent.  Light the first candle for the first week of Advent, the second during the second week, and so on.

Food From Heaven

source © Fred Friberg

This week in Church School, we learned about how after the Israelites escaped the Egyptians by crossing the Red Sea, they found themselves in an immense desert.  They did not have anything to eat or drink, and they began to get a little cranky and whiny with our guy Moses.  In spite of their childish behavoir, God takes pity on the Israelites by providing them with manna, quail, and water (from a rock!).  However, the Israelites are soon back to their old tricks, taking more than they need despite God's specific instructions otherwise.  They wake up to find their manna hoard covered in worms.  Gross!

Several themes that come out of this story:

- Perserverance and positive attitude:  The Israelites were major whiners and complainers, failing to trust that God would provide for them.  Challenge your children to think about one thing they whine/complain about all the time.  See if they can give it up for a week.  Don't forget to ask God for help!

- "Give us this day our daily bread:" God provided for the Israelites in the same way we ask God to provide for us in the Lord's Prayer.  How can we be God's hands and feet in the world, providing for our neighbors?  This would be a good time to talk with your child about the Fall Harvest Offering going on in Church School.  Go the the grocery store with your child and shop for some "manna" to bring for their offering. 

Moses Parts the Sea

This Sunday in Church School, we are continuing our exciting saga of Moses with the Israelites' daring escape from Eygpt through the Red Sea.  The theme was to trust God, even though your life might take you to some pretty scary places. 

Discussion:
- Talk with your children about ways we can practice trusting God: Prayer and reading the Bible are good places to start.
- Talk with your children about the importance of asking God for help when things get scary or hard. 
- Some people find that repeating a favorite hymn, prayer, or Bible verse helps them remember to trust God in times of fear.  Talk about your favorite Bible songs and how you can sing them in your head in certain situations.

Snack Idea: Parting the Sea Jello
Materials:
- blue jello
- teddy grahams, gummy bears, or something else to represent people.
- goldfish

Simple Version:
Make a "crossing the sea" snack for your kids using a plate or tray divided into three parts.  In the middle section, put gummy bears, teddy grahams, or another snack representing the Israelites.  On each side of the Israelites, put your blue jello.  You could put goldfish on top of the jello if you are feeling ambitious.

Story-Telling Version:
Make the blue jello and cut it into squares.  Tell the story of Moses and the Israelites (the teddy grahams) running away from Pharoah and the Egyptians (other teddy grahams).  You could read it out of a children's Bible and have your children act out the story as you go along using their teddy grahams. 

Once the Israelites reach the sea (jello with goldfish on top), cut the jello in half for them to walk through on dry land.  Then cover the Egyptian teddy grahams with the jello once they try to cross!

Crafts:
We are doing similar crafts in Church School, but not all ages are participating in each.  3/4s - 2nd are making bean tambourines and 3rd - 5th are making the sea bags.  Choose whatever you think your child(ren) will like best.

Tambourine
(just like Miriam used to celebrate the Israelites' freedom)

Materials:
- 1 paper plate
- Hole punch
- String
- Small bells

Decorate the paper plate using markers, paint, crayons, stickers, etc.  Punch holes around the edge of the plate.  Tie bells to holes with string.  Voila!  A tambourine.

Sea Bag

Mix 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/4 cup cooking oil, and blue food coloring in a small plastic ziploc.  Knead until mixed.  Get as much air out of the bag as possible.  Drag your finger through the middle to "part" the sea.

Pumpkin Carving!

Sunday, October 30th from 4:00 - 6:00

in the Assembly Room

Don't miss RPC's annual Pumpkin Carving!  This Family Fellowship event is a real favorite.  There are spooky decorations galore, crafts, pizza, green punch, and pumpkins.  Don't mess up your house or yard with nasty pumpkin guts--let us take care of the cleanup

Since pumpkins and pizza are provided, please be sure to RSVP to Emily Foon: efoon@ryepc.com so that we can have enough.