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Christmas Adventure

Hope is the theme for the first week of Advent. This might confuse us and the children too. The word hope is used when we express something we wish to happen, like for example, “I hope that the weather will be fine, so that we may go out”. However, hope in God has another meaning. In Scripture, it means that we are certain of what God says and does. We need to trust God; God never went back and never will go back on a promise. We are certain of his love, mercy, and forgiveness. We are certain that after this life, we can enjoy eternity in the presence of God. Hope in the Lord, means that we trust God completely. This is similar to when the children put their hands in yours and you cross the road protecting them. They have faith in you. They trust that you will take care of them and that you will protect them from the oncoming traffic. They trust you that you will take them to wherever they need to go. This is how we should trust God. We should never doubt God’s presence in our lives, he who is all loving and merciful. Read and pray, Psalm 33 which about the hope we need to have in the Lord.

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 1, 26-28

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

With the help of the puppets, the children will retell the story of the Annunciation.

Take the children to a shop which sells religious objects and let them choose a small cross. Ask a priest to bless the cross and encourage the children to always keep this cross with them. When they are afraid, or feel alone or upset, they are to hold the cross in their hands and remember that although they cannot see Jesus, he is near them and they may talk to him. Just as God was always with the Virgin Mary, God is always with us too. God will never leave us. God always keeps his promises.

When the angel appeared to Joseph and told him that Mary was to have a baby, he also told him that his name would be Immanuel, which means “God is with us”. We cannot see the wind or the air. Yet, we know that they exist. We cannot see God and at times we may find it difficult to believe that he is with us. Even the children find this difficult to understand. Children form their image of God, through the behaviour and the relationships with significant adults around them. The more they are loved, the more they will believe that God loves them and cares for them.

  1. Chrismons
ChrismonsDownload

Everyone has a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree at home. The children enjoy taking part in the decoration, and hanging some favourite decorations too. During this week, help them produce decorations for the Christmas Tree. These decorations are called Chrismons.

Chrismons, are symbols which remind us of Christ.

The cross: Jesus died on the cross because he loves us

The anchor: just as an anchor holds the ship in place and keeps it in a safe place, similarly, Jesus keeps us on the right road

The fish (ichthus): this is a symbol used by early Christians. The letters of the Greek word, are the first letters of the words: Jesus, Christ, God, son, Saviour

The Alpha and Omega: these are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet, showing that God is everything for us

The crown: Jesus is our King, he reigns in heaven and earth

The candle: Jesus is the light, showing us the way

The heart: Jesus loves us above everyone and everything else; Jesus will always love us

The angel: it reminds us of Angel Gabriel, who announced to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus; angels were also the ones to tell the shepherds that Jesus was born

The manger: it reminds us that Jesus was not born in a palace but in a poor dwelling, it also reminds us that Mary put him in a manger

The star: it reminds us of the star which shone on the place where Jesus was born

The shepherd’s crook: it reminds us that Jesus is the good shepherd, and he always takes care of us

  • Play a game of Hide and Seek … remember that no matter how well we hide, God always knows where we are!
  • Find the words (see below)
find the wordsDownload

Jesus, we know that you love us dearly, we know that you are always with us, however we find it difficult to understand how you are with us, when we cannot see you. We want to continue learning, so that we know you more and become your friends. Jesus, we want to become good like you.

Amen.

Prepare and download from below:

ElisabethDownload
MaryDownload

Activity Week 1

  • Start by watching the video on how to make your Lapbook and then make the basic Lapbook
  • Print out the templates for this week and cut them out carefully
  • Colour and stick the empty manger on the front cover and decorate the front cover (You can use craft card to cover any printing which maybe on the document folder)
  • Colour the candle purple and write on it in large letters HOPE, we are going to stick it on the first page of our open lapbook (keep the other candle for week 2) 
  • Fold the pocket as instructed and the two-flap shape
  • From the coloured craft card cut out 3 rectangles 12x2cm
Template candlesDownload
2 flap shapeDownload

Now let’s read about the first week of Advent.

This week the theme is HOPE. This candle is purple and is sometimes called the Prophecy Candle in remembrance of the prophets. Do you know who the prophets were? They were men and women mostly found in the Old Testament who spoke to the people on behalf of God, telling them how they should live their lives according to God’s laws, giving them messages from God. The prophets Isaiah and Micah both lived around 700 hundred years before Jesus was born and told of the birth of Christ. You can watch this video to see what Isaiah said.

Lighting a candle when it is dark helps us to find our way. When it is dark, we cannot see where we are going or where we have been. The light of the candle helps us to see our way again. We light the first candle on the Advent wreath to remind us to stay awake and be ready for Jesus’ birth.

The prophets Isaiah and Micah also help us on our way teaching us about the birth of Jesus, in one message Isaiah, spoke of who Jesus’ mother would be. He said, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Emmanuel.” He also said that God was going choose a woman who was not yet married, and she would be Jesus’ mother. He even said that one of Jesus’ names would be Emmanuel, which means God with us. 

On another occasion, Isaiah talked about Jesus again, saying, “A child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” All these names tell us who Jesus is and the great things he would do. Jesus was coming to earth to heal people and to teach people. Jesus would be a king who cares about his people, and he would bring peace to the whole world.

Isaiah’s third message was about Jesus’ family. Isaiah said that Jesus would be part of Jesse’s family. Jesse was King David’s father. Isaiah also said that God’s Spirit would be with Jesus. And that Jesus would be very wise and strong. Jesus would always do the right thing. The prophet Micah also spoke about the birth of Jesus. He said that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. 

Do you think that the words of Isaiah and Micah came true? 

God used the prophets to bring hope to his people and that is why we look forward with hope to the feast of Christmas.

Light one candle.

See it glow brightly, so that all may know,

How the candle shows the way

Making our darkness bright as God’s Day.

Dear God, on this first Sunday of Advent let this light shine brightly as the days grow shorter, so that we will be ready for your face to shine upon us at Christmas. Amen  

  • We can now write this prayer or one of your own prayers on the inside flap of the first page.
  • Stick the pocket under your prayer, on it write; Advent a Season of joy and preparation
  • On the three coloured rectangles write three ways that you can show hope to others this week and place them inside the pocket
  • Stick the two-flap shape above the candle. On the outside write Prophet Isaiah and Prophet Micah. Inside write; Let us prepare the way of the lord
  • Listen to this song as you are working on your lapbook; Born is the King.

Here are some ideas for your lapbook if you would like to include them, you can simply go to the Heroes section to find out about these Saints and print a picture.

Celebrate the Saints during Advent

Saint Francis Xavier, December 3
Saint Nicholas, December 6
Saint Lucy, December 13
Saint Mary di Rosa, December 15

Create your own Advent Calendar

Print the Advent Calendar template at the start of Advent and use it to count down the days until Christmas. Advent starts on Sunday 27th November. Do something each day to share the meaning of the Advent Season at home, school or with your friends and write it in each day. Some examples,

  • Say an extra prayer
  • Be kind in a special way
  • Try not to lose my temper
  • Do an act of kindness in secret
  • Try to be patient
  • Tidy up my room
  • Smile at everyone I meet today
  • Thank God for his love
  • Be a peacemaker amongst my friends
  • Read about the Nativity Story in your Bible
  • Collect unwanted toys in good condition to donate to charity
  • Help lay the dinner table