Lighting Your Candles
On the first Sunday of Advent (Dec. 1), light the HOPE candle.
If you want, here's a video and game to do as a family.
God made a promise to fix what Adam and Even broke. And even though people couldn't SEE God's plan, they trusted Him and waited with HOPE.
WANT TO PLAY A GAME?
Test out your trust skills by doing this:
Grab a blindfold and candy.
While one person has the blindfold on, the other person places the candy somewhere - ideally, in plain sight.
The non-blindfolded person gives instructions to the blindfolded person on how to find the candy. Instructions like: "Take two steps forward", "Turn right - not that much!", "Bend down", "Reach out your hand", etc. Be safe and stay away from stairs!
When the blindfolded person finds the candy, everyone celebrate by eating some!
Switch roles and do it again as many times as you like!
DON'T FORGET TO LIGHT YOUR CANDLE!
Place something yellow in the clothespin labeled HOPE.
On the second Sunday of Advent (Dec. 8), light the LOVE candle.
If you want, here's a video and game to do as a family.
God's plan included sending His son - Jesus - to Earth. He would take on human form and, one day, die on the cross out of LOVE for us all.
WANT TO PLAY A GAME? Let's play "The Christmas Memory Game."
Gather up some of your favorite people and scissors. Feel free to add-in your favorite Christmas treats and tunes.
Cut out the memory game cards along the dotted lines so you have 42 cards.
Turn all cards face down. Mix them up. Place them in a grid. Play just like the original Memory game.
One player turns over 2 cards. If pictures match, keep the cards and keep going for another match. If at any time the cards don't match, turn the cards over and play continues to the person on the left. The person with the most matches at the end WINS.
BONUS: After the game, work together to put the cards in order.
Need a hint? Read Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24.
DON'T FORGET TO LIGHT YOUR CANDLE!
Place something yellow in the clothespin labeled LOVE.
On the third Sunday of Advent (Dec. 15), light the JOY candle.
If you want, here's a video and game to do as a family.
People had to wait a very long time for Jesus to come. When they found out Jesus had been born, they were so happy and filled with JOY.
Want to play a game? It's called "Try Not to Laugh."
Pull up this video on YouTube.
Time each other... how long can you go before you laugh? How about the people in your family? Or, friends?
Your turn! Pull up your favorite funny video. Time each other, again!
Take turns pulling up videos or telling each other jokes - maybe while eating laffy taffy!
DON'T FORGET TO LIGHT YOUR CANDLE!
Place something yellow in the clothespin labeled JOY.
On the fourth Sunday of Advent (Dec. 22), light the PEACE candle.
If you want, here's a video and game to do as a family.
Bad things will still happen, but we don’t need to be afraid because the PEACE that Jesus brings reminds us that God is in control.
Be a shepherd for a day!
Grab some “staffs” (otherwise known as candy canes) and enjoy them as you figure out what to do next, like maybe:
- Watch this funny sheep video and be grateful you aren’t really a shepherd!
- Watch this video to learn how to draw a herd of your own.
- Watch this video to learn how to make origami sheep.
Wondering what sheep and shepherds have to do with PEACE? Check out this video that some creative kids made to find the answer. Hint: it’s somewhere around the 1:45 minute mark.
DON’T FORGET TO LIGHT YOUR CANDLE!
Place something yellow in the clothespin labeled PEACE.
On Christmas Day (Dec. 25), place a white candle in the middle of the wreath and light it.
If you want, here's a video and some things to talk about as a family.
On Christmas Day, a white candle is set in the most important place: the wreath’s center. It symbolizes so many things… the sinlessness of Jesus, the light He brings into our lives, and how God sees us when we accept Jesus as Savior and are forgiven.
If you have already made the decision to trust God and accept Jesus’s gift of forgiveness, CONGRATULATIONS! You have received the best Christmas present ever.
If you find yourself ready to make that decision, it's as simple as talking to Jesus about that. And talking with Jesus can be as simple as ABC.
Feel free to use your own words or say this:
Did you just say that prayer? The Bible says there is a party going on up in Heaven because you’ve decided to follow Jesus!
I’m sure there are people on earth who would want to celebrate with you, too! So, make sure you let someone know – like an adult who loves you and someone in KidsCrossing! This is important news so be sure to share it.
If you're not quite ready to make that decision, no problem. Just stay curious - God is a big fan of your questions!
Love All
Imagine if WATER was on your child's Christmas list
What if, this Christmas season, there was an easy way to use water to remember God and others?
You're invited to join KidsCrossing in raising $6,500 to co-sponsor a well with Living Water International so the kids and educators at Zimbabwe's Kowo Primary School have access to clean, safe water!
Every gift counts, no matter how large or small. Here are some ideas to get you started:
-Instead of another gift for you, ask for money to donate!
-Give a portion of your allowance or do extra chores.
-Make something to sell or set up a fundraiser here
Check out this grown-up guide or dive into this step-by-step plan to get the family involved...
Bring your donation to KidsCrossing on or before Christmas services and tell a KidsCrossing leader so they can make sure it gets to the right spot!
Christmas begins with a heart of worship. To help us celebrate Jesus' birthday we will spend a little less on ourselves, give more of our time and presence, so that we can show God's love to all!