Theme Discussion
Today is the first Sunday of Advent. “Advent” is the time we spend waiting and getting ready for Christmas. What are some things you do in your family to get ready for Christmas? Do these things help the time go by quickly? Imagine if there was no time to get ready for Christmas and it just came by surprise one morning and then it was over… Would there be some things you would miss? (Singing carols, baking cookies, writing to Santa, decorating the house, going for a Christmas tree…?)
At church we count the Sundays till Christmas. We mark them by lighting a new candle each week until the Sunday before Christmas. Did you notice how many candles are on our Advent Wreath in the sanctuary? There are 4 - just 4 Sundays till Christmas! Each one has a special word that goes with it. Today’s candle is for Hope.
The time when Jesus was born was a scary time in many ways for people the Hebrew people. They were ruled by an oppressive government and the world did not seem like a fair or a safe place. It’s often described as a time of darkness. Hope was certainly something the people needed.
The words “hope” and “wish” are sometimes used in the same way but they are actually quite different. Wishes are something we desire but aren’t necessarily possible - like “I wish I could wake up with super powers like Spiderman!” Hopes are also something we desire, and they are usually things that would make life better for us or for the world - like, “I hope we can find a way to make sure everyone in the world has enough to eat.” Hopes are often even things we can help to make happen.
Can you think of some hopes for this Christmas that you might have for yourself or the people around you? Are there some things you can do to help make them happen?
Response Activity Ideas
Hope Ornament
A candle in the darkness can be a symbol of hope. Make this stained-glass style ornament for your tree or to hang in the window and think about being a light of hope for those around us.
Click to print template PDF
Materials: print out the template (preferably on cardstock) or make your own with black construction paper, scissors, small tissue paper squares, glue, string
Cut out the circles, including cutting out the white middle sections (around the candle). Placing the candle circle face down on the table, glue tissue paper squares in an overlapping pattern to fill in the blank space around the candle. When it is filled in, glue the plain circle, black side up, onto the back to make a tidy reverse side. Attach a string to hang if you wish.
Symbol Scavenger Hunt
In today’s Bible passage being read in church, it tells us to get ready and pay attention! It tells us to be on the look out for signs of hope, signs of good changes to come, and signs of ways for us to be like Jesus in our world today. This can be super-tricky when we’re SO busy and getting SO excited about decorations, shopping, gifts, and treats at this time of year!
Think about focusing in on the signs of the real meaning of Christmas by doing a scavenger hunt with this list (PDF).
You may not find them all today, but challenge yourself to be on the lookout over the next few weeks and think about the meaning of the symbols you see! Will you be able to slow down and take notice?
Illustrated Ministry Advent Package
The theme for week one is “To Hold Hope” and tells how Mary and Elizabeth were told that God had big plans for their babies! As they came together to support each other, the women were filled with the Holy Spirit and with hope for future, despite feeling nervous about all the uncertainty that lay ahead.
Follow the craft activity on page 8 (template on page 11) of the package to create a bird to remind us of the Holy Spirit’s messages of hope.
If you did not receive an Advent Package and would like one, please contact the church office.