Having children has made me aware of cultural things around us and the messages being sent to us in crashing wave fashion. Sometimes I feel smothered in cultural opinion. Also within the last few years I have become increasingly aware of my subconscious assumptions based on how I have "always done things" or assumptions that affect my decisions and perspective. All this to say, I have been in a season of taking a step back, slowing down and really thinking and praying before moving. Of course I don't do this all the time and I run around in default mode quite a bit. BUT I have had many moments of reassessing and trying to go about things in a new and different way. It has been freeing and disorienting all at the same time, with an overall outcome of refreshment.
What does all of this have to do with an Advent calendar? Well, it is the underlying reason why I put so much thought and effort into this Advent calendar. Being a person of faith, Christmas time has always been a season of mixed messages and being torn between 2 worlds and one always seems to scream louder then the other. Running around thinking of what to get the kids this year, how to get gifts for all the people you love, spending money to the last dime, busyness and stress with a slammed on seal of "Remember the reason for the season!". Having kids just makes everything so much more intense and I started to think "What message am I sending my kids? What message do I WANT to give my kids?". It was also a personal journey to redeem this sacred Holiday to be something more then just presents and parties.
To put this Advent calendar together I did a lot of research. I really wanted to find out and share with our family in a simple, but meaningful way what Christmas is. A few of the topics go pretty deep into things. This is not a calendar to appease the painful wait till we get to open presents, not a religious reminder so we could check-off our Christian duty for the day or make us feel better about the "non-religous" activities that were consuming our schedules, hearts and minds. But truly to redeem something beautiful and soul filling that had been covered up and mixed with shallow, unsatisfying cultural high fructose corn syrup.
So here it is! Each day has a focus/theme, a little thought or activity and for most there is a name of God too. All names of God and information can be found here so if you would like to you can add a name you like on the days one is missing you can. Typically I will put something in the day's advent bag/pocket that signifies or goes with the theme or activity of the day. All of the days are moveable according to your schedule and available time to give. There are a few optional days for you to add some of your own personality or things you want to learn about.
day 1
Focus: Advent
Introduce the advent wreath: each candle will have a meaning for that week
What is Advent?
-the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event
-the first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.
(information found when I Googled "advent" here)
-Advent is celebrated in a spirit of expectation, hope, preparation, longing and anticipation for the arrival of Jesus
There is a ton of information about Advent here, there are many different ways to celebrate and use the Advent wreath. Everything from the colors, the candles, the wreath (etc) can represent a few things. it is fascinating and beautiful.
Name of God: King (Isaiah 6:5)
day 2
Focus: Light first Advent Candle (candle of HOPE) and Evergreens
We will make little wreaths on this day.
People would decorate homes with evergreens signifying everlasting life
When we see the evergreens in our home we can remember the everlasting life brought by Jesus.
Evergreens also represent hope in the midst of winter just as Jesus coming gives us hope in our winter of this broken world.
Name of God: Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6)
day 3
Focus: Spirit of Longing
All Creation groaning for redemption (Romans 8:10-25)
May choose to fast from something till Dec 25th.
O Come, O Come Immanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
R: Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. R.
O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe. R.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
from ev'ry foe deliver them
that trust Thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave. R.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh. R.
O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight. R.
O come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace. R.[5]
Name of God: Immanuel “God with us” (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14)
day 4
Focus: Christmas Tree lights
It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.
Name of God: Light (Isaiah 9:2, John 8:12)
day 5
Focus: optional (maybe a fun little gift, ornament or activity)
day 6
Focus: optional (maybe a fun little gift, ornament or activity)
day 7
Focus: optional (maybe a fun little gift, ornament or activity)
The next 2 days we made our own Nativity Scene......
day 8
FOCUS: Light 2nd Advent Candle (Bethlehem candle)
Read the lyrics to O Holy Night, they are WOW. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Holy_Night
What is prophecy? found here
What is Messianic prophecy? found here and broken down a bit simpler here
Name of God: Messiah (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:4-6)
day 9
FOCUS: Make Nativity (this was really fun)
day 10
FOCUS: optional (maybe a fun little gift, ornament or activity)
day 11
The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.[10] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.[11] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.[12] In Spain and Puerto Rico it is known as "Flor de Pascua", meaning "Easter flower". In both Chile and Peru, the plant became known as "Crown of the Andes".
There is an old Mexican legend about how Poinsettia's and Christmas come together, it goes like this:
There was once a poor Mexican girl called Pepita who had no present to give the the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked to the chapel, sadly, her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up.
'Pepita', he said "I'm sure that even the smallest gift, given by someone who loves him will make Jesus Happy."
Pepita didn't know what she could give, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a a small bouquet. She felt embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus. As she walked through the chapel to the altar, she remembered what Pedro had said. She began to feel better, knelt down and put the bouquet at the bottom of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw them were sure they had seen a miracle. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the 'Flores de Noche Buena', or 'Flowers of the Holy Night'.
The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity.
Name of God: Star Numbers 24:17
day 12
FOCUS: Peace on Earth (what a beautiful concept this is to discuss together as a family)
Name of God: Lord of Peace, Prince of Peace, King of Peace (Heb 7:2, Is 9:6, 2 Thess. 3:16)
day 13
FOCUS: make Gingerbread Houses
Name of God: (revisit ones already learned and have them pick their favorite so far)
day 14
FOCUS: The Candy Cane
According to folklore, in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some sweet sticks for them. In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to add a crook to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus. In addition, he used the white colour of the converted sticks to teach children about the Christian belief in the sinless life of Jesus.
According to folklore, in 1670, in Cologne, Germany, the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral, wishing to remedy the noise caused by children in his church during the Living Crèche tradition of Christmas Eve, asked a local candy maker for some sweet sticks for them. In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to add a crook to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus. In addition, he used the white colour of the converted sticks to teach children about the Christian belief in the sinless life of Jesus.
Name of God: Great Shepherd John 10:11
day 15
FOCUS: Christmas Movie Night (popcorn, hot chocolate, warm blankets)
Name of God: (craft or artwork about their favorite name of God)
day 16
FOCUS: Light 3rd Advent Candle- Joy (arrival is soon!)
Name of God: Rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4-6, Isaiah 25:9)
day 17
FOCUS: Study Snowflakes
Snowflake facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake
Name of God: Job 38:22
day 18
FOCUS: make paper snowflakes
Name of God: (Forgiver) Isaiah 1:18
day 19
FOCUS: Make snow globes
day 20
FOCUS: Make Cookies
day 21
Focus: optional (maybe a fun little gift, ornament or activity)
day 22
Focus: optional (maybe a fun little gift, ornament or activity)
day 23
FOCUS: Angels- http://www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/angels
(this article is pretty intense)
Name of God: Lord of hosts (angels) Isaiah 6
day 24
FOCUS: The Announcement, Light 4th Advent Candle
Angels (Luke 2)
Fast over!
Name of God: Faithful (Acts 1:10-11,Duet 7:9)
day 25
FOCUS: Light the last candle: The Christ Candle
He has arrived
His faithfulness to the first promise gives us comfort that He will be faithful to this next promise
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