Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A Spiritual Advent

Family Home Evening Lesson
Spiritual Advent Ideas

Opening Song: The Nativity Song ( Children's Song Book #52 )

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-2
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.
Saying where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.

Just as the wise men spent a long time finding Jesus we also wait with excitement and count down the days until Christmas.

Lesson:
Explain that the first FHE in December is also the First day of December and that we are going to begin counting down until Christmas. It is more important to count down the days until the birth of Jesus, than to think about what presents we are waiting for. Jesus's Birthday is the real reason we celebrate Christmas. You could also have the children make a "present they are going to give Jesus" this Christmas. Have a special box for children to put in a drawing of something they are going to give Jesus this year, or write down their ideas on pieces of paper and put into box. These 'gifts' can be the first you open Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning.

Activities:
Printable Nativity Advent Calendar This beautiful printable is available in both black and white and already fully colored. Each day a new "character" is added.

Printable Nativity "Go Fish" game

Printable Advent Calendar from The Friend Magazine

Other Advent Ideas

Closing Song: Picture a Christmas ( Children's Song Book #50 )

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat:
Have some little candy/chocolate near your advent calendar for children to have during the month

Have a birthday cake to celebrate Jesus's Birthday (that is coming ;)

6 comments:

J Johnson said...

I was struggling with trying to decide what I should be doing for sharing time this Sunday. Through some "mistake" I ended up on your blog. Like a friend told me, we need to have more ideas available to conteract the Santa craze and I'm hoping this will be helpful for the families of the children in our ward. I plan on using the revised advent calendar from the 2000 friend. THANKS so much for this idea.

FYI important is misspelled.

This Girl loves to Talk said...

thanks for the spell check ;) all fixed...

Lara said...

Great idea! I'm printing off the advent right now. Love your website. Great ideas....

Stephanie M Larsen said...

Thank you so much for having this site, it's such a wonderful resource and blessing in my family! Thanks again.

Natierae said...

We love your website!!! Thank you so much

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this! I'm looking forward to doing this tonight with the family.