A place to rest

Christmas Adventure

Peace is the theme for the last week of Advent. The peace which Jesus gives, is not lack of difficulties and conflict. The peace and joy of Jesus, walk hand in hand. When we entrust our lives to Jesus, we will find peace, even if we are surrounded by chaos. During these four weeks  we realised what Joseph and Mary endured. In those times, Mary could have been stoned to death. Both were gossiped about. However, they were at peace, because they were doing the will of God.

Read/pray Numbers 6, 24-26. Many pray this blessing over their children, make it part of your habit to pray it on your children too.

The story of no room in the inn, is so much part and parcel of our Christmas stories, it is acted out in plays, and watched in films, however there is only a slight reference to it in Luke 2, verse 7. If you have the children’s bible, you may find this episode, which you or the children may read.

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 2, 7

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Let the children use their imagination, and let them retell the story of when Joseph and Mary did not find place in the inn.

Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. The children cannot give Jesus a present. However, we can tell them, that one time, Jesus said that whatever we do to others, we would be doing it to him (‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ Matthew 25, 40). When Mary and Joseph felt that they had nowhere to go and no one to turn to, they surely felt very worried and upset. When they were in the end offered a place, it was nothing special, but it was sufficient. For whoever offered the place it could have been something insignificant, but for them it was not. During this time, there are many organisations collecting money and things. Find an organisation which is collecting money and things for children. Encourage your children to give money from their pocket money and/or give one of their toys, either from the ones they have or from the ones they receive as a gift for Christmas. This will be their gift to Jesus. Children learn from your example. Let them see you helping others, by giving money and helping those in need.

  1. Soon, it will be Christmas. Help the children to make Christmas cards, for you, for their grandparents and/or friends. Allow the children to use their imagination. However, remind them, that Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, so it is important that Jesus is included in the card.
  2. Help Mary and Joseph, find the stable. (see below)
PrintoutDownload

As we said, peace is the theme for this week. For today’s prayer, find a quiet place. Put on warm clothes and in the evening go on the roof. Leave the mobiles behind. You may use a blanket to put on the floor, everyone lies down and looks at the sky. Remain there in silence. Make spontaneous prayers, start the prayers by thanking God, for peace and the joy you have in your family, the children may continue by thanking God, for their siblings, grandparents, friends. Thank God for peace in our country, pray for the countries which are at war. Allow the children to feel free to pray for whatever they want. At the end, stay in silence again. Then everyone prays silently and say “Thank you Lord for always hearing our prayers, even when we say them in our hearts. Amen.” Instead of at night, you may say this prayer earlier, go somewhere quiet, for example watch a sunset, or go where there is a beautiful view. The important thing is that it is a place with the least distractions possible.

Download and prepare each character from below:

Mary and Baby Jesus Download
JosephDownload
DonkeyDownload
CowDownload

We will need

  • Our lapbook
  • Glue stick/scissors
  • Pencil/colours
  • Coloured craft card
  • Activity templates (candle, pocket, baby Jesus, cross shape)
Cross shape Download
Baby JesusDownload

Activity Week 4

  • Print out the templates for this week and cut them out carefully
  • Colour the candle purple and write on it in large letters PEACE, we are going to stick it on the fourth page of our lapbook
  • Fold the pocket and cross as instructed 
  • Colour three of the baby Jesus templates and stick them on the craft card and cut them out
  • Now let’s read about the fourth week of Advent.

This week is the fourth and final week of Advent and the theme is PEACE.

Today we light the last purple candle, now four candles are lit on our Advent wreath. This candle is also called the Angel’s Candle. Last week we focused on the shepherds who were out in the fields at night taking care of their sheep when an amazing sight appeared before them. The next day their lives were changed forever when they found the baby Jesus lying in a manger. This week we focus on the angels themselves. This candle is also the candle of peace, it reminds us of the peace Jesus gives to us. 

Angels are God’s messengers, they act as ‘a go-between,’ they serve God by giving people messages from God.

 Angels have a big part in the Christmas story. An angel appears to Zechariah telling him that his wife Elizabeth is going to have a baby and he is to be named John (John the Baptist). We can read about it in Luke 1:8-20. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary asking her to be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38) and an angel appears also to Joseph, telling him not to worry because Mary is going to have a baby (Matthew 1: 20-25).

Later, as we learnt last week an angel appears to some shepherds, surrounding them with the Glory of God, telling them not to be afraid. The whole sky then bursts with a host of angels praising and glorifying God, they are announcing the birth of Jesus. 

Even after the birth of Jesus an angel warns Joseph in a dream to take Mary and baby Jesus out of Bethlehem and go to Egypt because King Herod wants to kill him (Matthew 2:13-15). So, you can see how God helps people by sending angels. The night before Jesus was born the heavenly host of angels were God’s messengers, bringing a message of peace and love.Are you ready to receive their message of peace? During Advent we have been waiting and preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus who is our Lord and Saviour, it has been a long wait but now it is very close. When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, the world was forever changed through the Good News of hope, love, joy, and peace. The angels help us to worship and think of God’s Glory and of his gift of Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Theirs’ is a message of peace and good will.

Light four candles,

See them glow brightly, so that all may know.

How four candles show the way,

Making our darkness bright as God’s Day.

Dear God, your faithful love is never ending. It leads us to your greatest gift to us, Jesus. May the glorious light of your steadfast love shine brightly in us and through us, so that we can give you praise and glory. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen  

  • We can now write this prayer or one of your own prayers on the fourth page of our lapbook.
  • Stick the pocket under your prayer, on it write A Saviour has been born, he is Christ the Lord
  • On the back of the three baby Jesus’ write how you can bring peace to someone this week. Maybe make up with someone you have had an argument with. Or call someone who you know is feeling lonely, make a new friend at school. Try not to lose your temper are some ideas.
  • Stick the folded cross above the candle when you open it there are five squares, write in the centre Emmanuel “God with us”. On each of the squares write one of the names of Jesus, King of Kings, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counsellor.

The Advent Lapbook is finished now, if you wish to add any more decorations to personalise it, you may do so with stickers and glitter glue. In week 1 you will also find extra activities to do. 

Over the four weeks of Advent, we have patiently been waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we have waited with the prophets, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the angels who were all excited and looking forward to the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah, they have guided us towards Christmas. We have waited with hope, love, joy, and peace. We have remembered the past and looked forward to the future. We have certainly prepared the way of the Lord, making our hearts ready to receive the blessings of Jesus at his birth and to look forward to his second coming. 

To celebrate Jesus’ birthday, on December 25th stick the extra baby Jesus figure in the manger on the front of your Lapbook. 

Keep your Lapbook as a reminder of this special season of Advent.